A Full Lunch Bag

I am currently in the middle of exams. Waking up early and going to sleep late is nothing new to me. The problem with it now is that I literally want to eat everything! I am a stress eater. I diagnosed myself a few years ago. I just don't know why but, when ever I need to study I think about food and what I could possibly eat. I seriously cannot study without food! I think it's a low key procrastination technique.

Either way, I needed to control it. Suppressing hunger is never the way to go when you're trying to loose weight. When they tell you that you can't have it, it makes you want it more. So I decided that I will just give in to my cravings and that way I can study peacefully.

I am all for meal-prepping food. Secretly, it's a bit of a highlight when my kitchen is a mess with different meats and vegetables all over the place. And, it's okay because in the end I have everything related to food figured out. Usually, when I meal-prep I pack two meals; either breakfast and lunch or, lunch and a snack. This week (finals week) I have meal prepped and packed five meals each day! That's 5 breakfast meals, 5 lunches, 5 dinners and, a whole lot of healthy snacks. Talk about awesome healthy organizational skills! (insert applause please).

Today I packed a full days worth of food in my lunch bag. How everything fit is beyond me. All I knew is that today was the day before my final exam for electrical science and it was going to be a loooong day. I still had to show up to work and I needed to fit a little gym magic in there. And, I did not want to crave crazy things while I was trying to calculate the current of a circuit.

Here's the menu
Breakfast: Protein shake, turkey bacon and, boiled eggs
Mid-morning Snack: Yogurt
Lunch: Mashed yams, mushroom cream & wild rice soup (seriously this recipe is delicious!)
Mid-Afternoon Snack: Bosc pear and string cheese
Dinner: Grilled chicken with vegetables and avocado
Evening Snack: Blueberries and protein bar (a delicious and healthy studying snack!)

Now, I am sorry for anyone on a mobile site that can't view the video above. But here's the magic that overloaded my lunch bag today. Meal prepping is a bit time consuming because you're cooking meals for the entire week in one day. But, you save money (lunching out in TriBeCa is not cheap!) and for those of us who want to eat a bit healthier it stops us from making bad choices; like ordering Chinese food because you were to tired to cook dinner (been there, done that, multiple times).


Stay healthy!
<3 Mariela

Meal Prep Sunday

The key to any weigh-loss journey is PLANNING!
If you plan to win, you will win!
If you fail to plan, you will fail!

A healthy and successful weigh-loss starts in the kitchen. Cannot stress that enough! Yes, going to the gym and pushing it to your limit then showing off a sweaty pic post workout rocks! I am soooo guilty of that. But, going to the gym takes super dedication and commitment. Lets be honest, we do not all have the time. It is super important to cook fresh, nutritious and yummy food in your kitchen. That is the real workout for your body. When your body stops trying to breakdown all the trans fat that you are consuming, when the sodium you take in doesn't make you feel bloated and, when nutrients are utilized to the max... well your body will amaze you!

You do not have to get on a crazy diet. Everyone used to ask me (and still do) what diet am I on. I'm not on a diet- I am eating healthy and I eat everything to moderation. Once you learn how to moderate what you consume you'll learn the right portions for your body and best of all, you will not over indulge on a craving! It takes time guys. But, I believe in you.

It's a simple saying: if I can do it, you can do it!

Take a look at my meal prep for the upcoming week! I love Sundays!

Kiss the chef!
<3 Mariela

Honey Grilled Salmon

I had so much fun snapchatting about my meal prep process yesterday. What if it became a regular thing? I LOVE to cook. However, I do not enjoy doing the dishes afterwards. And I really do LOVE food shopping (it's second after shopping for school supplies), I just don't like waiting in line at the register to pay. Lol so let's just say that cooking is a love-hate experience for me.

Well there is one recipe that I just wanted to share with you guys because it was BOMB! I made honey grilled salmon and yes, I shall be making this again. I'm not a big fan of seafood person; I do enjoy calamari but the majority of the time at restaurants the dish is fried, so that's a no with my current lifestyle change (healthy & fit baby!). Next in line is salmon. I can eat a well prepared salmon any way you lay it on me; it's usually what I order at restaurants because it's full of good nutrients, low in calories and I am trying to be fancy on the low-low.

Honey Grilled Salmon

• One 5oz salmon fillet (1 inch thick)
• 1 teaspoon of Adobo
• 1 tablespoon of garlic power 
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey 
• 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil 

Okay this recipe is simple, simple! Sprinkle the adobo and garlic powder on the salmon and rub the herbs in. Next pour the raw honey on top of the fillet and spread. Let it marinate for 15 minutes. The honey should still be visibly sticky - do not let it go dry! Next, spread the coconut oil on the hot grill and place the salmon. You should hear a very romantic sizzling that would be the honey on the grill; cook salmon for 8 minutes. I used my George Foreman grill so, it didn't matter what side of the filler touched the grill because they both did! But, if you're using a regular grill place the salmon skin side up to cook. 

I paired this delicious fish with a fresh avocado lettuce. What will you pair it with? 

And below is that awesome snapchat video. Buen Provecho!

Hot Cocoa 5K

I deserve a grand applause! I managed to stuff myself on Thanksgiving night, be up early in the morning on Friday to leave to Atlantic City, somehow spend all my money and eat another 849 plates and, drive back Saturday night (to someone completely ignoring me)- yet on Sunday morning I am ready and eager to start this race!

There is just something therapeutic about being able to run outside; the air against your skin, the toughness of the pavement underneath your sneakers, the pit-pit-patter of your racing heart. And the best feeling is crossing that finish line.

I've always done fun 5k races, like the color run, in which you're not really timed. It's just a themed race/jog/walk that you enjoy. But, not this one! My bid had this cool electromagnetic chip that recorded my time when I passed the finish line. It was super cool. At the end they had a list of all the runners and their times. I was impressed! Very well organized and well attended off; of course there was hot cocoa at the end of the race (hence the name) and they had apples (which I threw a couple in my bag) and bagel with spread. It was a really nice race!

Listen to this cool mix that I jammed to while running!

Live, Love, Run
<3 Mariela

68lbs GONE!

Let the record show that on November 22, 2015 I, Mariela, reached my weight loss goal! 

Did you hear that? I REACHED MY GOAL WEIGHT! That is 68lbs GONE! 

Gone and absolutely never, NEVER, EVER coming back. 

I started my weight loss journey in May 2015. I was my heaviest ever and I felt it everywhere. 

I didn't always used to be big, I would say I was average with a good enough dose of physical activity to keep me at a good place. I really liked the way I used to look. Then somewhere in between junior and senior year of college I gained some weight. "Freshmen 15" is an understatement. It was more like "you just gained 35lbs in a semester and you need to chill the fuck out". But I didn't know how to make better choices. Eventually, the stress with school, the sorority, my (at-the-time) relationship and being 400 miles away from home really took a toll on me. I couldn't even begin to start working on myself even if someone handed me a step by step manual. At that point I just didn't know how to be happy. In the end, I left school and gained even more weight. Eventually the weight gain stopped. It didn't mean that I had any weight loss- I just remained at the weight I was; fat. However, I had moved back to NYC (where my legs where my main source of transportation- I walk everywhere) and little by little I started to feel okay with my inner-self and wanted to go out more. 

On the inside, my inner demons were battling with depression and slowly winning. Major improvement in my life. Going to church, praying daily and keeping faith may seem cliché to some but, that's how I maintained control of depression. It's how I maintained control of ME. On the outside however, the mirror won each and every time. My clothes were tight and not fitting properly, I thought I looked a mess, going shopping was never a favorite of mine (even before the weight gain) but, now I dressed it. Every time I'd talk to my mother she'd somehow find a way to mention that I've gained too much weight and say that she'd want to see me the way I looked before, when I was "skinny". I want to start by saying that many of the women in my family are vain (Sorry! Not sorry!) and only care about appearances. I can't blame them, they grew up always hearing that a woman needs to be presentable for her man, she needs to be sexy, she needs to cook and clean. So I took her remarks and everyone's else's with a grain of salt. Because I knew I was never going to be that woman who did shit to appease to any man. I knew I was worth so much more than the way I looked; I'm intelligent, know how to read construction plans, can apply engineering calculations and, can manage any construction project thrown my way. But those comments still hurt. They cut. Yes, I was big but, I am still that girl with the same heart and love. 

Eventually I said enough. I told myself I would start going to the gym. The local gym near my house was having a promotion; $99 for a year. A year! How can you go wrong with that? Plus, it was open 24hrs, it was walking distance from home- really no excuses. So I went & registered. I paid the fee, took a tour around the gym, the lady who took care of me told me to come pick up my ID in a week. One week but, I didn't go. Ever. I kept telling myself I would go but, truth of the matter was that I was too lazy. Months and months went by and I would walk past the gym when ever I'd go to the bank and keep on walking. But hey, at least I was walking! 

It might of been intimidation but, I just couldn't be on a machine. I missed the freedom of the north country (where I went to school). I wanted to get in a river and kayak, I wanted to go hiking and ice skating. I wanted to take a long camping vacation. I figured something about myself along the way, I am a bit outdoorsy and I like it. So, I began to jog a little; head phones in, music in my ears and I felt the freedom I was missing. Summer of 2014 I gave myself a new challenge: run across every bridge connected to NYC. It might of been the excited bridge-designer-wanna-be in me but running across those bridges was exhilarating. I would look at the suspension cables and automatically think about the torque and tension keeping this bridge from collapsing into the Hudson River. 

And then, I met a boy. A boy who enjoyed to constantly eat out at restaurants. And that healthy kick of making smoothies and going to buy fresh fruits and vegetables every weekend died. This said boy drove everywhere because when it came to taking the MTA he just "wasn't about that life". Of course I was hanging out with him all the time so, the constant walking I was proud of barely was there. I went from walking an average of 25,000 step on a regular day to barely walking 4,000 steps. Eventually we moved in together - to the Bronx out of all crazy places! I didn't completely feel safe in the neighborhood I was in and the night runs that used to cleanse my soul never happened. I gained 30lbs during the time I was with him. I was at my absolute heaviest weight ever. EVER! I didn't feel attractive, lost all sexual drive, lost my confidence, felt isolated from the world, missed my family and friends, and I stopped going to church. The more I realized how out of touch I was with myself the angrier I became.

Eventually, I started going to the gym. I logged in all my meals. I began to food prep. I started going out during my lunch time to walk around the neighborhood and get extra steps. I became super engaged in MyFitnessPal. I found a platform where I could be honest about my weight, my sadness, my willingness to try and received the most amazing support. Although the boy was supposed to be on this fitness change with me - he still enjoyed to go out to eat; okay, I looked for light options, lower calorie dishes, or just portioned out my meals so I'll have something for the next day. When he was eating cookies in bed I walked to the kitchen and got an apple. I started making my shakes again; full of green vegetables and fruits. I went out and bought a weight watchers cookbook - and making meals in the kitchen was fun again! 

Somewhere along the way my boyfriend and I broke up. Many people thought I was trying to get a "revenge body" after the breakup. No, that was not the case. I was so sad while I was with him and I couldn't figure out why. Yes, we broke up but I was not about to let that stop me from doing what I wanted to do. I kept going to the gym. Kept speed walking on the treadmill until I was able to run. I finally walked all the damn bridges! And slowly, my happiness creeped back in. And when I saw the results I was getting - forget it, I was hooked to doing good. In August I was beyond feeling myself with my progress. But, today, after reaching my goal I am just happy. Simply happy. Yes, I think I look amazing as fuck! But, I am so proud at myself for being so determined. For not giving up. For not skipping the gym on evenings when all I wanted to do was go home and forget the shitty conversation I had with the contractor because he closed up walls and there was no way to know if the wall was insulated or fire-rated properly except to knock it down. I gave up alcohol for nearly 6 months! Do you know the times I just wanted to have a glass of wine and relax? But, no thank you. I'll pass. Fast foods like Chinese take-out, pizza hut and, McDonald's became a thing of the past. Saved money in my pockets and lost inches around my waist. It was hard work! But, along the way I found myself and it became a lifestyle I loved. It was disciplined and kept me on schedule - I am a planner so, it all worked out. 

Am I stopping here? Absolutely not. I just made another goal. I'm going to keep pushing myself. Settling is not something I ever want to compromise on again. So just wait for my next progress blog - it'll be better. Because I am a better woman today. 

Starting Date: May 11, 2015

Staring Weight: 198 lbs 

Current Date: November 22, 2015 

Current Weight: 129.9 lbs

Yes, you can do it! 

<3 Mariela

Hey, I can do this!!

My first progress picture. Four months of hard work!

                                            

Hello! 

So this is my first post in regards to my weight-loss journey. I just came back from vacation- a little scared to get on the scale! Lol But screw it! I've lost 40lbs since I started this marvelous journey and if I gain any of them back I know I can loose them again.

I initially started this weight-loss journey because I really hit a point in my life where I would just cry for no reason. Looking from the outside in, I was fine. I was doing fantastic at work, had been given a raise, my projects were all excelling within budget and schedule. I was planning to go back to school & although that was a stress and a half my ducks were lining up nicely. At the time I was in a relationship and even that seemed fine. He supported me when I needed him and encouraged me to hit the gym. But when ever I went into my closet I felt discouraged, I would get dressed to go out and feel absolutely miserable. Working in an office and dealing with clients, I would always get dressed up: business dresses, heels, makeup and accessories. That quickly stopped. I told myself I wouldn't get all fancy because I had a long commute and didn't want to wake up any earlier just to put on foundation. But the truth was that I just gave up on myself. I felt super sad all the time and it showed! I stopped wearing makeup, didn't get dressed up for work, I had not been in a salon in months! And all this affected me but, also those around me. I felt bad about myself so I pushed those who cared away; family, friends, loved ones. I seriously did not like this person I became- she was ruining my life. 

But now it's been 3 months. And I feel great. I have lost 40lbs and it feels amazing. I look in the mirror and don't flinch away. Haha! I'm short, 5 feet. So you can notice absolutely everything! But you also notice the loss. And seeing my progress makes me want to go further and see what more I can accomplish. I don't feel sad as much as I used to. Going to the gym and working out, burning calories and sweating bullets it all fuels me with happiness and hope. I go running and at the end of it I'm puffy, sweaty and out of breath but wow, emotionally I am at 150%. It makes me feel like I can keep going through life.  

I think my weigh-loss has been healthy. There are some who have asked if I'm starving myself or over working at the gym. And hearing things like that makes me sad, the answer is no. I exercise regularly, I stuff myself with proteins, vegetables and fruits, I gave up alcohol (except for that minor moment at the resort  lol) and there is no more fast food nor junk food. I feel proud of myself. I know I have always been a girl who gets the job done right; work has never been a problem to me. And I'm looking at this journey as the ultimate project. And I know I can do this. I was upset at myself for close to a year. Now I am appreciating everything that I am. I am smart. I am kind. I am forgiving. I am beautiful.

Starting Date: May 11, 2015

Staring Weight: 198 lbs 

Current Date: August 21, 2015

Current Weight: 156.1 lbs

At the hotel. 

                                                           

At the hotel.

                                                           

La Isla Saona 2015

                                                               

Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 2015

                                                               

California Girl

Overlooking the Hollywood hills on the Griffith Observatory - July 2015

There came a day where I did a random act; I contacted my ex on facebook. This is a guy I hadn't spoken to in years! And yet, we were on the phone for nearly two hours catching each other up on our perspective lives. Then I did something even more random; I booked a flight to California and went to see him.

Should I have done this? Probably not. Was it something I needed to do? Definitely, yes.

Unfortunately, I am all in support of the idea that to get over someone you need to get under someone else. You know what I mean! Lets say "fuck it" to the stereotypical notion that a woman who enjoys casual sex is a slut but, a man who enjoys casual sex is praised. No, no.

Anyways, after my current break-up from hell, I was still stuck in the rhythm of wanting someone to talk to, someone to snuggle up next to, someone whom I can just be quiet around and not have things get awkward. But all that added up to a boyfriend and I was not in the mid set for "boyfriend" but, at the same time I wasn't about to give the guy I called "fuck boy" more emotions than his title entailed. So, I went to the next closest thing, an ex-boyfriend. Someone who already knew me and knew my craziness. Best of all, he already knew how to hold me and I wouldn't have to play the "lets-get-to-know-each-other-so-fucking-isn't-weird" game. Yes, I went to California with one purpose; to get laid.

Overall my trip was great. On the first night there I went out to a club and got completely wasted that I do not remember how I got back to the apartment. But, to be completely honest, I have always been a light weight and I that night was my first drink in 5 months! My body had gotten rid of every trace of alcohol and when I reintroduced the liquid gold my body just couldn't handle it. That, or as I was told, I kept real close to the bar and buying continuous shots of Patron. I mean, I don't remember it but, I believe it; pictures and videos in my phone proved it! But that was just one night.

For the rest of the trip (which was too quick), I went hiking with my little brother (who is an LA resident!) and of course with my guide, "The Ex". There was also a museum involved, the Griffith Observatory, a few restaurants, an art gala, the beach, more beers, and a hot tub. And, I am proud of myself because somewhere in between all that fun I found time to exercise. There was a fitness center where I was staying at and I took full advantage. Having fun makes me happy but, feeling the burn and sweat after a workout has a longer positive effect on me. And you better believe my mouth touched the floor when I saw all the calories I consumed in alcohol during that trip. 

The flight from California to New York is crazy. Six hours on a plane made me feel like I should of been in a completely different country after getting off - but, I would definitely take that trip again. One, because my brother lives there. Two, because there is so much to do over there and I didn't have enough time to do it all. This trip was the quick escape from New York that I needed. I was around family and "new" friends. Although I was still very cautious about the way I looked, I surprised myself at how confident I felt and how easy it was to look at myself as pretty (just 2.5 months since the start of my weigh-loss journey!).

Please enjoy a snap-shot of my trip on being a California Girl. Pictured with me is my little bro. 

California - July 2015