My 100th Post! 100 Things I Have Learned

This is my 100th post! Lick the screen and taste this yummy cupcake!! I have decided to list 100 things that I have learned in the last 2 years and 2 months that have helped me along the way.  Granted, I need to remember some of these things myself. These are in no particular order.  THANK YOU readers, followers, friends, enemies, frienemies, everyone who passes and reads this little ol' blog. I love you guys and you are truly more than any blogger could ask for!  Enjoy!

1. Drink water!  I have to drink at least 2 liters a day
2. If you do not like plain water, add: ginger, lemon, lime, watermelon, cucumber, mint, whatever will get you drinking 
3. Do cardio!  Anything to get your heart rate up. Take a class, vacuum, garden, WHATEVER!
4. Lift weights, yes, cardio will take the weight off but weights will give you the sexy shape
5. Pack your lunch the night before, you will save money and you will not be tempted to eat crap
6. Eat smaller meals often, aim for 6 meals a day
7. Eat slowly, put your fork down between bits
8. Sit down when you eat, you tend to eat slower when you do this
9. Plan your meals on Sunday for the week, try to make left overs so you can have them for lunches
10. The fewer ingredients an item has the better it is for you
11. Never eat until you are stuffed, stop when you feel satisfied
12. Eat fruits and veggies,the more colourful the better, you plate should be half veggies
13. Pack your gym bag the night before, make sure your ipod/MP3 is charged
14. Plan what days you will go to the gym in advance, write them down in your agenda/Blackberry, make it like an appointment
15. Eat small portions: meat the size your hand/deck of cards, veggies two hands
16. Try to eat on schedule, every 3 hours or so to keep your metabolism fired up
17. Get sleep, if you are not getting 6-8 hours try and go to bed earlier
18. Talk to someone about what you are doing (even if it is only God)
19. Don't give up
20. Set reasonable, timely goals, instead of,"I want to lose 40 pounds" say, " I want to lost 5 pounds by May 30"
21. Change your exercise routine every few weeks (you body gets bored)
22. Read about others who have done what you are trying to do.
23. Indulge when necessary, but get right back on track
24. You cannot spot exercise, you have to work the whole body
25. You will not get big and bulky like a guy from lifting weights (you don't have the testosterone levels)
26. When doing cardio change up the pace, ex: 30 sec. at your max, 1 min at a reg. speed
27. Chew sugar free gum
28. Protein! Fish, beef,soy, chicken. Should definitely be in your diet
29. Try a new activity once in a while,Zumba, Spinning, Bootcamp, you never know you may fall in love!
30. Update your ipod once a month
31. Buy yourself something when you reach your goal that is NOT food (a new bag is always nice)
32. To build your butt do squats, deadlifts, lunges, leg extensions and leg curls
33. Replace your shoes once a year
34. Cut the salad dressing, use balsamic vinegar and olive oil or lemon/lime
35. Limit soft drinks, if not phase them out to none.
36. Cut down on alcohol, if you must have a drink stick to vodka and cranberry or orange juice
37. Diets do not last, life changes do
38. YOU CAN DO THIS!
39. Tofu can taste good
40. Take Vitamin D
41. Go brown!  Brown rice, pasta and flour
42. Take a multivitamin
43. At a restaurant order an appetizer as a meal
44. Have either a drink OR a dessert, not both
45. Having something that is not the best food choice? Eat HALF of what you would have
46. Drink green tea
47. Avoid fast food, if you can't order a salad or the healthiest thing on the menu
48. Snack on nuts (unsalted)
49.  Get a Foreman Grill (or something like it)
50. Cut down on sugar/salt
51. If you are going to eat chocolate have it dark 65% or more
52. Teach others in your family about healthy habits
53. Losing weight can decrease chances of heart problems, diabetes and certain cancers
54. Can't go to the gym? Get a video (I recommend Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred)
55. Travel for work?  Pack a jump rope and/or a resistant band, so you can work on the road/vacation
56. Write down everything you put in your mouth
57. Keep track of your weight and your measurements
58. Try to reduce stressors that you can control
59. Focus when you work out, try to minimize talking with others
60. Make non weight related goals ex: be able to do 10 push ups
61. Reduce the number of times you go out to eat
62. Order your salad dressing on the side
63. If you don't feel like going to the gym GO,even if you do 3 sit ups that's better than 0
64. You will have HATERS!  Don't let them get you down. 
65. Give yourself a pat on the back every once in awhile.
66. Read magazines such as Oxygen, to get helpful info to help you
67. Black Eyed Peas, Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Pink and Britney are great to work out to
68. There is nothing that you cannot do
69. Fell of the wagon?  Ended up in a ditch?  GET BACK ON!
70. You are doing this for you
71. No one can do this for you but you!
72. You will not loss 50 pounds in a month (if you do congrats)
73. 1-2 pounds is normal to lose in a week
74. Slow and steady wins the race
75. You do NOT have to eat all the food on your plate.  It does not matter what Mama told you about the starving children in Africa
76. If you have plateaued, change up your routine, more reps, more weight, shorter rests, different order
77. Take a rest when you see fit
78. Take care of yourself, no one can do it for you.
79. Weight loss is 80% what you eat, 10 % exercise and 10% genetics
80. Yes, you do have to work your abs (even if they are hidden aka flabs)
81. You can say "No" to certain foods and second helpings
82. Haters --> You're working out again? You--->  Yup, want to join me?
83. The best way to deal with a compliment is "Thank You"
84. Low fat yogurt makes a great snack
85. Starches are NOT my friend
86. People assume you are sick if you have lost alot of weight
87. Just because your bigger does not mean you eat chips and cookies all day long
88. Carpe Diem ---- Seize the Day, tomorrow may never come
89. You burn 50 calories a day for each pound of muscle you have, 5 pounds of muscle = 250 calories
90. Don't skip breakfast, even if you only have a fruit, you have to eat something!
91. Eliminating 100 calories per day can cut you 10 pounds in a  year
92. When you are hungry drink water, thirst is often mistaken for hunger.
93. Don't eat out of the bag, take a small bit in a separate container
94. Picture yourself lean, strong and sexy, if you have an old picture of you at a good size look at it for inspiration
95. Surround yourself with positive message and images
96. Shop smart, do not keep junk at home, then you will not be tempted to eat it in times of weakness
97. Losing weight gives you confidence
98. Take a walk at lunch
99. Read this blog (haha!)
100. Be true to yourself!  In my heart even thought I get down on myself, I know that I can do this, I have come so far!  Thank you and looking forward to the next 100 posts!