Half-Marathon

I found my half marathon :) It will be the Simi Valley half marathon and it will take place on June 23. I need to register within the next few days, and I am getting really excited! My first week of training os on schedule and going good! Tomorrow is my long run day, so I am anxious to see how that will feel. I really hope I can see this through!

2012=marathon!

So my new years resolution for 2012 is to complete a marathon! That's right, me, water baby will be running 26.2 miles! My plan is to take the whole year of 2012 training for this thing, and then in December I will be crossing a finish line somewhere! Please support me in my attempt at what feels like impossible :)

My mom is skinnier than me...

My mom has recently lost a TON of weight, which is GREAT! She is so happy with her body now that she feels comfortable again, and she is EVEN planning on getting her boobs done J I am very happy that she is happy, but there is a small part of me that is irritated with the whole thing, is that wrong? Secretly it kind of bothers me that my mom is skinnier than me, and can fit into things that I can’t fit into. It kind of bothers me that my mom has more discipline than I do when it comes to working out and the food she is eating. I have decided to try and make another change. I am going to give calorie counting another shot… but I am going to use it positively. I am not going to be upset if one day I forget to log my food, or if I go over my suggested calories. I am still going to eat as I please, but I am going to try and watch my portion control AND try to make some healthier food choices.   I also weighed myself this morning, and the scale says I still weigh 148 J that was music to my ears! I Although regardless of what the scale says, I still feel like I am getting bigger. A couple pairs of my dress pants are fitting a little snug when previously I felt like they were falling off of me…

So far I am enjoying my positive outlook, and I am hoping my state of mind will also be reflected in the way I look coming up here pretty soon. What I said in previous blogs about loving my body still stands, but there is nothing wrong with wanting a little upgrade here and there J

Finding time to work out.

I decided that I want to work out. Partly because, like I said in my previous blog I am gaining weight and partly because I miss it a little bit; I miss the added energy and happiness that I felt throughout the day from working out. I decided to do a workout video. It's a Jillian Michael's video titled 6 week 6 pack. I have done the workout a few times before, but never for the intended 6 weeks. So... I think I'll give it a shot :) The video takes 30 mins. I did it monday, and

 

woke up pretty dang sore this morning if I do say so myself. She is tough man let me tell you! I really do hope that I can come out of this looking like her though MAN-O-MAN would it be nice to have a stomach like that! I am making a commitment right here and now, that I will follow this video through for 6 weeks straight AND I will post my results and review of the video :) I have made myself a small chart to keep up with my workouts. The plan is to do this video 3 times a week, and do some form of cardio on the days I am not doing the video. Monday I did the video, and today I went for a walk/run with Sophia. The video has 2 levels, for the first three weeks I will be using the level 1 workout, and for the last 3 weeks I will be doing the level 2 workout. Who knows, maybe after 6 weeks I will be so happy with my results that I will purchase another workout video to complete :)

Gaining weight... Yet still happy!

Since my last blog about quitting counting calories, working out when I have time, and being happy with my  body... I have done just that! The only problem is... I NEVER HAVE TIME TO WORK OUT! And let me just say on record that I have not done any shape or form of physical activity in over a month. Shocking I know. With this news also comes news of my weight gain. It isn't much, but I can definitely tell that my stomach, love handles, and of course my legs are a little more jiggly than normal. On the bright side, it is winter, I am healthy, and happy as a clam :) Of course I would just LOVE for my extra little jiggly spots to disappear, but I am focusing on not letting that affect my life. I am trying to make it a point to make time for working out mainly for health reasons and especially since my cravings tend to gravitate towards junk food. It's nice to work out without the extra added stress of wanting the perfect body. I am working out because I genuinely have fun doing it, it is a great stress reliever, and it helps keep me healthy :)

My happy blog.

Soo... Lately I have been eating anything and everything!!!! I am pretty sure that I am gaining weight, because I also have not worked out AT ALL in probably 3 weeks. The weird part is... I am sooo happy! I know, I know, this whole blog is "supposed" to be about my strict diet habits, and what I am doing at the gym and elsewhere that is finally going to give me the six pack that I have always wanted, but you know what... I don't want it anymore! I have never had a REAL problem with my weight, size, shape or anything like that. I don't know where I got it into my head that I had to have a supermodel figure... I seriously need to face reality! IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! I guess it could... if I had enough free time to workout twice a day, hire a personal trainer, and a personal chef to cook all my weight friendly meals.. but that is never going to happen.

I like my body! I think I have good height, my size is proportionate to that, and thanks to a very good plastic surgeon... other parts of me are also proportionate ;) If I had one complaint it would be my thighs, but it has ALWAYS been my thighs, even when I was a national swimmer it was my thighs! If I can go through my whole life of being an athlete, and always have a problem with my thighs I think that is something I am just going to have to get used to...

So... I am changing what this blog is all about! I have tried counting calories, I have tried being on a strict workout regimen, and while I did go through a period where I lost 10 pounds and felt pretty good about my body I wasn't genuinely happy. So, this blog is now going to feature articles about me loving my body, and about me doing things that make me happy; whether that be a workout, or going to The Hat at 11pm because Billy and I have a craving... welcome to the new me :) I love my body and I am going to be confident from now on!!!!

I DID IT!!!

Today I stayed under my calorie limit! WOO HOO! I am so proud :) and... I'm not feeling hungry at all! I also don't feel like I over indulged in anything throughout the day today, so that is good! I also got a good swim workout in today. I only did one workout though because I am SUPER sore from yesterday. I am not sure if it's from swim practice or my six week six pack DVD... probably a little bit of both! YAY! I am starting to feel like this is the beginning of me getting back into it... not only am I jumping back on the eating healthy and working out horse, I am also getting back into swimming shape YAY! I am no where near where I would like to be, but it is a work in progress and I am taking baby steps to make sure I get there :) After tomorrow I will have swam 4 days this week which is pretty good! And I can feel myself getting more comfortable in the water which also feels pretty good!

I gave in....

So, it turns out... I gave into temptation tonight while at work. The good news is it wasn't bread (YAY!!) The bad news is...... it was a slice of peach pie from Marie Callendar's. I LOVE peaches, and when my manager's brought it out... I should have walked away... But I just couldn't help myself!!!!!!!!! Once I gave in I kinda went nuts. I had a few bites of a Tomato Basil Pasta, and a few bites from our brand new Hershey's Chocolate Bar Cheesecake. I am not going to add these items into my log because it will just upset me, I will just have to know that I went over my calories yet again (seems to be an ongoing trend the past few days).

The good news about today is that I worked out twice! I did a 30 min. Jullian Michaels DVD that kicked my ass, and I also went to swim practice. I probably burned off close to the amount of calories I consumed today in my workouts... but it still doesn't make up for giving into the temptation. I think once I start working behind the bar it might be easier for me to not eat while at work, since I will be stuck behind the bar and there won't be an unlimited food supply at my disposal. My calorie counter app does not incorporate my calories burned into my daily caloric intake. I can input the calories I have burned throughout the day, but it will not add those calories back into what I am allowed to eat... should it? I am thinking being able to consume the calories that I have burned would kind of defeat the purpose of burning them... I think I am okay with sticking to 1500 calories a day, and also trying to burn at least 1000 calories a day. I will keep these two things separate. But, I will keep telling myself that going over today was kinda sorta alright since I did workout so much :)

stupid work!!!!!

Like I said earlier... I have reached my calorie limit for today. Working in a restaurant is not condusive to a healthy eating style! I get bored, I wanna eat... I get hungry, there are plenty of goodies to satisfy my hunger... but I can't!!!!!! I need some motivation right now, because the rush just ended, and now all I wanna do is smack on bread and french fries... please world give me the will power to sustain from eating crap!!!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

back up to 1500

I just moved my calories intake back up to 1500. It is pretty much impossible to stick to 1200. It makes me sad every day to see that I have gone over my calories, and it sucks to be super hungry all day... when i lost 10 pounds before I was at 1500, hopefully it will work for me again this time.

Bad news is I am at 1500 already for today and it is only 5pm...... I will have to go the rest of the night with water only.... good news is im pretty full right now so hopefully I can do it :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

I'm so mad at myself!

I have been sooooooo bad lately! I've gotten back into the habit of just eating whatever I want, whenever I want and just not caring. The bad part is I haven't even been working out enough to compensate for all the crap I have been eating... ugh!!!!! I was doing sooooooo good before I went to the river in june, and I just can't seem to get back into eating well and working out since then... I am getting sick of making commitments to myself all the time and breaking them :( I have made so many new mantra's and approaches to this whole weight loss thing, and nothing seems to work. So.... this is me saying yet again that I am ready to re-commit myself to working out regularly and eating healthy!

Starting tomorrow... because today I went over my calories, and didn't work out...

I really need to get a yoga dvd!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

But... working out makes me HUNGRY!!!

So I went over my calories today..... by A LOT!!!! I ate 167% of what I am supposed to be eating. I am blaming this on swim practice this morning. I felt SOOO hungry today, and I just wanted to eat! I know that sounds bad but it's true! And the bad thing is I justify it by saying, "It's ok, I swam today so I can eat whatever I want." When in reality I don't think it really works that way at all. :( It should though! I really want to start to get back into watching what I eat. I have been eating so horrible lately... and when I eat healthy I feel more energized and just better all around, so it's back to healthy eating for me!!!! NO MORE CHEESECAKE FOOD!!!!!!

Although on the workout front I have been doing alright. I have starting swimming again so that has helped, but I have pretty much wasted my gym membership this month... hopefully after this week is over (swim lessons will be over and I will have my mornings back YAY!) I will be able to start back up a more regular routine at the gym. I know Billy will like that, because he wants to go swimming more anyways :)

I haven't read anything from you in a while so I hope everything is going good with you!!! I can't wait to see you the first weekend in august!

So Mad!

so, I didn't count my calories today. I am probably right on the edge... yet again... if  not over.

Breakfast:
- apples and cinnamon oatmeal from Trader Joe's
- Green tea

Snack:
-small lunchables (like the ones with just meat, crackers, and cheese.

Lunch:
-Billy made me the best lunch ever (all homemade):
barenaise sliders
fried zucchini
french fries

Dinner:
1/12 of a kids pizza from work. Super tiny piece, not many calories.

It's the lunch that killed me today. First of all, ground beef is not particularly low in calories. I don't usually like to waste calories with sauces, but berenaise sauce is delectable! The slider buns were Hawaiian rolls (I ate 4 at 100 calories a pop... Yikes!)

OKAY I just logged all my calories, and I REALLY should have checked the nutrition label on my lunchable... that shit is almost 400 calories! I was under until I out that at the las thing! LAME!

Really???

So I thought I did sooo good today! I feel satisfied without having ate a lot, and I thought I was going to make it WELL within my alloted calorie count. Well the good news is I didn't go over, but the bad news is I almost did! Here is a copy of what I ate today... tell me what you think!

Wow, I know that is like huge... but I can't seem to get everything on the screen at once without making it really small before I take my screen shot.

Anyways, not a bad day overall (from my perspective). The things that I did eat were all pretty healthy if I do say so myself! The bummer is that sometimes a small amount of food adds up to sooo many calories, and then... your already at your limit :( 

Today was also my first day officially back in the pool (YAY)! I only swam about 2500 yards (which is like half of a normal workout) so I am glad to say my butt wasn't kicked as hard as I thought it was going to be... we shall see how tomorrow goes... Also, my first swim meet will be in August, YAY! I can't wait to start swimming, and I am kind of excited for Billy to be able to see me compete :) 

Don't worry, I'm BACK!

So, after going on vacation... and eating everything in sight... then gaining 10 pounds... then coming home loosing 5... I still felt like I was in a bit of a funk. Eating semi healthy, barely working out, and NOT counting calories at all has been my life since I came back from the river (2 whole weeks).

This would be the first day... when I still looked skinny :) 

WELL... I am here to say that I am BACK! I am ready to start counting my calories again (diligently) and working out on a regular basis! Not to mention I called my club swim coach and told him I wanted to start swimming AND racing again! I will be starting morning practices this coming Wednesday, I will also get all the information I need to sign up for USA swimming, and I am sure I will be taking part in a swim meet this month at the earliest :) YAY!

I have a new goal for myself (besides my goal weight and what I want my body to look like). I want to be able to swim a 100 fly in under a minute! This was easy for me for a very long time. My best time ever (if I remember correctly) was a 54.something (I will have to double check that). I want to get fast again! I'm almost positive I will never be in as good of shape as when I was in college working out 2 and 3 times a day... but 1.00 is totally doable! I will start keeping track of my progress on this blog :) I can't wait to report how my first practice goes.... as my coach called it... splashing around (which is pretty much what I will be doing haha). I'm nervous and excited!

Look at my freaking arms!!! DANG!!! I had to post it!

Also, tomorrow... there WILL be a post about my calories! Goodnight world :)

New weight

So i was going to wait until sunday to weigh myself, but i couldnt help it. I have been eating really good and working out, so i weighed myself and i was 145! Woo hoo! My food detox is working, and i was right it will be easy to get this weight off :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Food Detox

I had lost 10 pounds. Super proud of myself, and feeling AWESOME! All ready for my vacation (especially since I would be in a bathing suit the whole time).

While on vacation I DO NOT want to watch what I am eating. That is the last thing I want to do, is be strict with myself while I am on vacation... Bad idea, because I came home 9 pounds heavier! That's right, no typo there... 9 pounds! So pretty much I am back where I started :( The good news is... I think the weight will come of easily since it is just extra vacation weight, and I am diving right back into my diet and exercise routine.

Sunday and Monday I was able to stay under my calories YAY :) I should be able to keep this up! And I am lightly starting to work out again. This week will be kind of an easy week to get back into the groove, then its hardcore starting next week!

Morning weigh in

I weighed 141 this morning! I'm super excited to get down to 135 hopefully by the end of the summer I will be my goal weight!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Didn't work out like I planned...

So I HAD planned 12 straight days of working out to get myself in tip top shape for the river. Well, things didn't exactly go as planned, but do they ever?!?!?! I worked out for 4 straight days, which is pretty good I guess. I spent the rest of the days working and FREAKING OUT about my RICA. I can't wait for this stupid thing to be over!!!!! It is currently consuming my life... The good news, we are leaving for the river on Sunday, and I will have NOTHING to worry about :) not even any bills because I totally made all the money I needed to to be able to pay them all while I'm gone... HOO-RAY!!!!!!

I did buy a new bathing suit today, and I have to say I think I look pretty darn good in it!!!! I'm super excited to be in the hot weather and a bathing suit for the next week straight!

I am happy with my stomach, I am almost pretty happy with my thighs (shocking I know).... but now my issue is starting to be my love handles... I am actually really excited to get back, not worry about anything, and get back into a routine of working out and eating healthy :)

exhausted!!!

So, I hadn't got much sleep the past few days, so today I did all of my catching up! I had planned on going to the gym for body works this morning (which was much needed let me tell you I have been eating like crap lately!) but I decided to catch up on my sleep instead... I woke up at 7:30 debated going to the gym, decided not to... watched 2 episodes of camelot and then went back to bed for like 3 hours. It felt really nice to just be super lazy! I love days like that! I was supposed to be doing Yoga at the gym at 11 tomorrow, but it turns out I have to go and get stupid fingerprints for my life-guarding job at the city at 11:30, so I was thinking I would go for a run, and then do a workout DVD at home :) I will let you know how it goes! Also... it's back to counting calories! I haven't been doing a very good job the last few days, but I am going to get back into it now!

Body works this morning.

The body works class I took this morning was AWESOME! I forgot how much I really liked that class! I took it at the Fontana gym, with an instructor I have never had before named Tish. She was AWESOME! She was a loud black woman who yelled a lot and was very motivating!!!! I felt like I was the only person in that room, and every time she talked it was directed at me. She motivated me to work very hard, and I can't wait to take her class again! Tomorrow is yoga YAY! I will get all my sore muscles stretched out, and relieve some of the tension that is all over my body. Day 2 of my 12 day plan, here I come!!!!

Time to get motivated!

So, I have two more weeks before our family river trip. I am so proud of myself for loosing the amount of weight that I have so far, and now I feel like I just need to get my butt back in gear for working out so I can tone up and really feel comfortable in a bikini!

I am planning on going to my body works class tomorrow at 9:45 am. I haven't been in about a month, so I am sure it will be super hard and make me super sore... but I'm ready for it! I am also hoping to keep this motivation up for the next two weeks so I can actually see some results in time for the river. Actually... since it's only 2 weeks, maybe I should map out my plan of attack to ensure maximum results:

Tomorrow-- Body works 9:45
Thursday-- Yoga 11:00
Friday-- Hike with my mom 6:45
Saturday-- Mountain Hike
Sunday-- I didn't end up working out AT ALL :( my grandparents cane over to hang out with us on their way to Canada. They will be gone all summer, so I had to spend time with them. Then me and Billy both studied, then we watched a movie...
Monday-- Spent the whole day sleeping, recuperating I should say...
Tuesday-- Stupid fingerprints kept me from going to my class...
Wednesday-- Worked during the day, studied for my RICA at night...
Thursday-- Worked during the day :( Then spent time with Billy.
Friday-- Ran errands with my mom for the river-- including getting pedicures! :)
Saturday-- I have my RICA today, and I didn't get home from work until 1am... I will be sleeping in.
Sunday-- Body works 8:30 (Day we leave for the river.... gotta get my last workout in)

OKAY, that's 12 straight days of working out (can you tell body works and yoga are my two favorite classes!)  I am putting it out there into cyber space that this 12 days of working out will get completed! I am making a promise to myself to get this done, and if for some reason I can't make a workout one of these days I will have to subject myself to a P90X workout dvd. Wish me luck as I try and complete this challenge I have in place for myself.

sunday weigh it

I currently weigh 142!!!!!! Yay :) well on my way to 135!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

I went over!!

Omg, I can't believe I went over my calories today! Not by a lot but still!!! Going on another 5 mile hike tomorrow, I hope it helps!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

I think I am gaining weight...

I'm stressed, I have been eating bad, and it needs to stop!!!!!!!! I was getting close to my goal. COME ON!

My pants didn't fit!!!!!!!!

So I had a job interview today for a swim lessons position for the summertime, and I went to put on the dressy clothes that I had worn throughout my student teaching, and my pants didn't fit.... THEY WERE TOO BIG!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited, this must mean that I am actually loosing weight and inches! I usually wear pants and shorts that are stretchy like workout clothes which I obviously can't really tell if they are getting bigger or smaller. I am excited to weigh myself on Sunday! I weighed myself just now (at the end of the day) and I was 144 :) that is after a whole day of eating and stuff so I should have been my heaviest but NO I was the same which hopefully means that I will weigh less when it's the morning before I have eaten breakfast :)

p.s. I went to the gym today, it was nice! I took a step class. I am planning on going tomorrow as well :)

I'm proud!

I just had to post a quick comment about how proud I am today about my calorie intake! I had a pretty hearty lunch at a little over 600 calories (spaghetti and 1 piece of texas toast... I know it's not the healthiest, but my options were limited..) and I was nervous that my dinner would send me well over my limit.. but I had one Baja Chicken Taco from my work with a bite of black beans and it only ended up being like 250 so I was good :) overall I ate almost 1300 calories which turned out to be 85% of my limit. YAY, GO ME!

Blog Revisited

My promise(s) to myself:

1. I promise to try my hardest to keep up with my calorie counting. I also promise not to be down on myself for missing some calories/meals/days!
2. I promise to watch what I eat without making myself go CRAZY! A balanced, well portioned diet will go a long way.
3. I promise to workout, frequency undetermined.
4. I promise to weigh myself once a week (every Sunday morning).

The more I read over everything I have written tonight the more I think this will be my body and health mantra. I want to make sure I stay positive, no beating myself up! frequency undetermined, because after all... I want to stay happy and I don't want to kill myself with workouts. If I take a day or two off then it's because I felt I needed it, and I will get back to it when I'm ready no judgments of myself.

Bottom line, I want to feel good in my own skin. All the pressure is on me to make sure that happens, I just hope my mind and my body can collaborate on this matter!

This was something I posted a little while ago, my way of life mantra if you will. For the past 2 weeks (ish) I have not been working out at all. I have actually been feeling very weird about my entire life in general. My days consisted of sleeping in until about 10am and then once I finally did wake up I would immediately turn on my TV and catch up on any shows. While watching TV I would think about working out, or other productive things that I should accomplish during that day, but would continue to convince myself that I could do it tomorrow, or that whatever it was I needed to do it could wait. The only thing I have myself committed to right now is work, which is always at nighttime, so this laziness would ensue until it was time for me to get ready for work. I would work, come home, go to bed, and the whole thing would start over again the next day. Since I only have work going on in my life right now I have been feeling very mopey, like my life at the current moment has no purpose. I am stuck in this limbo between school and my career and in the meantime I can't find the drive to get myself out of bed and do something with my day. 

I AM SICK OF FEELING LIKE THIS! I am done with laying in bed and lazing about all day! So I'm done with that! Of course every once in a while a lazy pajama day is a must, but to be doing it every day is just not healthy! I decided to re-read my lifestyle mantra for a few weeks ago, and to remember that I do have goals that I want to accomplish. The good thing is that I did write about not getting down on myself, so I am taking my own advice! Apparently I needed a few weeks of nothing to recuperate from the burnout of working out daily and working so much at Cheese. Fine I'll except that, and apparently my mind needed some extra time to rest while in this weird limbo, that's fine too! And now that my mind and body have caught up with each other, and are both sick of being lazy I will do something about it :)

Sunday is weigh in day... dun dun dun.... I weighed myself this morning just so I wouldn't be so shocked when the time came on Sunday. I was positive that I gained weight what with all my lazing about (although I have been making a good effort to eat better). To my surprise I was 145 on the money. This makes me happy! I have maintained my weight throughout my period of laziness :) YAY body! I went running this morning, and I know we will do something active when we hang out tomorrow, and I will weigh myself on Sunday with no expectations :) If it's any less I will be ecstatic, and if it's still 145 I will also be ecstatic! 

No more french fries!

So last night at work I at a mess load of french fries!!!!! At the end of the night EVERY NIGHT they leave a big bowl of the leftover french fries out under the heat lamps, and last night I simply could not contain myself! I had to have some haha :) So... I did just that! And you know what, I am taking my own advice and I am NOT beating myself up about it! I felt really good to take out all of my bad mood (from work) on the french fries that I was eating :) haha!

Tonight I will not be eating french fries :) And I have made a promise to myself that I will go running tomorrow morning! Miranda says she will go, but we will see if that happens. Now... I'm off to work :)

Sunday... Weigh in day

So, yesterday was weigh in day. I was a little nervous, because I was POSITIVE that I had been gaining weight in the past two weeks, but to my surprise it was 145 on the dot! I was so relieved to see that! My two week hiatus did not cause me any added poundage, thank god! Now I have to stick to the track I am on, and loose the 10-15 pounds that I have been wanting to loose for years!

Figures.......

Me and Billy tried to go swimming this morning. I was so excited about it... first day back, new mantra, Billy was joining me... I was planning on getting a pretty good workout in. Well the universe has another plan for me, because it decided to send out the Santa Ana winds and close the pool.

One good thing came out of this, i got home in time to go with my dad to visit my grandma :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

After 2 weeks of laziness and constant eating... I'm back!

So I have decided that I am going to change up my strategy. Although I still believe in everything that I said in my previous blog, there is just no way that I will be able to pay for a personal trainer. In fact... I am still considering canceling both my rock climbing and gym memberships. This would free up $50 a month from my budget (which is desperately needed at the moment). I guess if I can't afford it, well then I can't afford it and that is that! More news on this subject to come...

My other thing is... eating, eating, eating...! Something needs to be done about this. It has already been established that I am not a big fan of counting my calories, and since I am not doing my student teaching anymore I think it would be tedious to plan out my meals in advance. Although these things are true, calorie counting is essential to keep track of your food intake as well as your portion control! I wouldn't say I am the most healthy eater in the world, but I do think I eat fairly good for myself.

Working out obviously goes hand in hand with eating right and continuing on the road to loosing weight. I was doing really well with going to the gym every morning and taking classes. This lasted a little over 2 weeks and quickly faded out. With not one piece of me missing the gym at all (red flag for wether or not I should cancel my membership....??) I am not sure how I am going to be able to motivate myself to work out. Here is what I think, the more I run the more I enjoy it, I also enjoy swimming and doing things outdoors. That will be the basis of my workout routine. I also plan on researching ways to work the two areas of my body (tummy, thunder thighs) so that I CAN achieve my desired results.

My promise(s) to myself: 


1. I promise to try my hardest to keep up with my calorie counting. I also promise not to be down on myself for missing some calories/meals/days!
2. I promise to watch what I eat without making myself go CRAZY! A balanced, well portioned diet will go a long way.
3. I promise to workout, frequency undetermined.
4. I promise to weigh myself once a week (every Sunday morning).

The more I read over everything I have written tonight the more I think this will be my body and health mantra. I want to make sure I stay positive, no beating myself up! frequency undetermined, because after all... I want to stay happy and I don't want to kill myself with workouts. If I take a day or two off then it's because I felt I needed it, and I will get back to it when I'm ready no judgments of myself.

Bottom line, I want to feel good in my own skin. All the pressure is on me to make sure that happens, I just hope my mind and my body can collaborate on this matter!

Swimsuit time!!!

Just bought my new bathing suits for the summer!!!!!!!! Now my body just needs to get ready for what it will look like while wearing them!

None

No counting calories, no working out, no watching what I eat, NONE! I feel so up and down about working out and counting calories and eating healthy... I want to hot body, but am I too lazy to commit? Or do I just not know enough about eating and working out to keep it up? Am I really just that lazy?

It's true I DO want to reach my goal weight (135 pounds I am currently just shy of 150). I DO want a nice flat stomach with no trace of a muffin top whatsoever. I DO want smaller thighs that don't feel like they are going to rip every pair of jeans that I put on. The only problem, I don't know how to workout to achieve MY maximum desired results. I am just generally working out running, swimming, taking classes at the gym, etc. But what do I need to actually do day in and day out to ensure that these things do happen?

I mentioned in a previous blog about my friend Aaron inviting me to his gym called cross-fit. It is more of a personal training team type atmosphere with a nutritionist in house. I was seriously considering joining. This sounds like just what I need, a group of professionals that are going to train me to achieve my results, a team that is going through the same thing as me, camaraderie, a coach to tell me what to do! the only problem... it would cost me $100 every month. There is NO WAY I would be able to afford that, especially after looking at my finances in greater detail (currently I am making less money than it will cost to pay my bills each month... YIKES). Something I am considering is a personal trainer at the gym I go to. I would look into the pricing, and if it fit into my budget I would replace the rock climbing gym :( with the personal trainer. As much as I DO NOT want to cancel my rock climbing membership, I am just not using it enough....

Bottom line is.... something needs to be done on a more personal level for me to achieve ANY type of results! River in June... Hawaii next year... it is seriously time to crack down!!!

This is what I aspire to look like!!!

stupid internet!

The internet is not working at my house currently.... ugh! I guess i will post tomorrow....

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

How can I make working out daily?

It is so hard for me to get into a routine that I can actually stick to! It is very frustrating. I have so many goals that I want to obtain (pertaining to my body) but I just can't stick with anything long enough to see any of my goals. I think that is actually part of the problem.. I never see actual results, so as time goes on I am less and less motivated to stick with it. I was doing really good for a while, but my weight pretty much stayed the same and then I started to get lazy. I need to come up with a goal that has measurable results not just, "I'm going to work out for 7 days in a row and log all my calories." I need one like that has a result at the end that I can see... example: weight loss or inches lost in my waist and or thighs! I also think I need a better attitude about my body, I am so insecure about everything I am sure that doesn't help.... what can I do???

My friend from work asked me to join his workout club called crossfit. It is more of like a team thing with trainers and coaches and other people that you are working out with. He has like the best body ever, so it obviously works... only problem is it costs $100 a month... I do not have an extra $100 a month to spend on working out. I am actually considering canceling my gym membership because I can't really afford it and I would rather be putting that money into my credit card debt... I want to be able to get the body I want without the gym. I want to be able to workout outside and do more fun outdoors things like tennis and running and hiking and things like that... The only problem with that is can I push myself hard enough to get the results I want??

I'm feeling very lazy and fat.

I haven't been doing to much lately... just been feeling really blah... I've been eating way too much and not working out at all! I am in desperate need of some motivation...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

OH MAN!!!

So... I didn't go over my calories today... or so I thought! I got a new phone recently and I had to re-download my app... my RTI was reset back to 2000 calories :( so I didn't go over 2000 which is good... I guess...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

I'm feeling a little sore

I didn't notice at all yesterday, but I am very sore in my shoulders from the p90x workout yesterday. I think that's a good thing :) I am planning on doing day 2 later today :)

Also I got up this morning (without my alarm miraculously) and went running! I did almost 4 miles :) It wasn't as pretty as the beach... but I got it done :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

I went over my calories today...

I am a little bit sad that I went over my calories again today. There is one thing in my food diary that I totally splurged on today I'll admit that... it was a Pillsbury cinnamon roll I had for breakfast. Billy made them, and I wouldn't have eaten one except he made them, so I had to have one!  

So I will admit that my food choices today were not the best.... I was at 55% of my RDI going into my dinner which should have been plenty of calories, but Billy and I decided to have a burger from work. ALTHOUGH... we did omit the mayo AND honey mustard dressing from the burger which is not included in my calorie counting, which probably brings me back down enough to not be over!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! This doesn't change the fact that I made some unhealthy decisions today.... Well I fessed up! It actually feels really good to have logged everything that I ate with honesty. I think the more I do this the more honest I will be with myself when choosing meals. I wrote in an earlier post that I hated calorie counting... really though it's not that bad I think a lot of the time I am just afraid to know how much I am actually eating. I am going to try and stay within my 1600 calorie allowance and still eat what I want! That was the other big thing that got me, I was having massive cravings because I was holding back from a lot of things. It's evident that I cannot restrict myself from eating the things that I like, I am just going to have to learn how to portion control these things better!!!! 

p.s. I did day one of p90x today! Tomorrow I am going to go for a run in the morning (if the weather cooperates), Miranda and I may or may not be going rock climbing, and I am going to try and fit day 2 of p9ox in there :) 

Swimming friend or foe?

When I started working out again about 3 weeks ago I was diligently going to classes at the gym, and habitually counting my calories. Somewhere in the last three weeks Billy decided he wanted to start swimming with me. I think this interest started with him being curious about a gym membership. I got him a guest pass, but the only thing he wants to do at the gym is swim. I think this is because all the guys that work out in the free weights area are like super buff and know what they are doing... and Billy kinda doesn't so he would feel embarrassed. In the pool (usually) it is just us and old people, or people that don't know how to swim as well as I do (and thanks to me Billy now as well) which makes him feel more confident. This is SOOO awesome, I love that Billy is working out, and that he is enjoying swimming! But, what about me? All this swimming with Billy and trying to get him into shape (in addition to me boycotting calorie counting) has pretty much landed me right back where I started. Granted I am working out much more consistently than I ever have post-athlete, but now I am not getting as good of a workout in the pool. I try and write good workouts for myself, but it's not the same as having a coach, or an instructor telling me what to do and really pushing me to my limits. I feel as though I need to get two workouts in now because swimming alone just won't cut it. I did buy myself those weights recently, and I DO have the P90X dvd's.... I think I might just start putting those to some good use :) AND... as much as I hate to say it... I think I am going to try my best to start counting calories again... IN FACT I am going to update my food diary RIGHT NOW! I lied.... I am not! I started, and realized when I was at 98% and still needed to enter food that I would be going over....

So.... I went over.... and tomorrow is Monday... time to start over!!! The end!

I hate counting calories!

I can't be the only one who hates this tedious task right? I mean half the stuff I eat I have a hard time finding on the database, so I end up just guessing anyways... also, I am the kind of person who wants to eat what I want to eat! I think I might try not counting, and doing my best to eat healthy. One thing counting has taught me though is that (before) I was eating WAY more than I needed to in a meal, and in a day as well. So it has taught me how to portion control myself, which is good! And maybe I will count a couple days a week just to check that I am in my 1600 calorie range :)

About to go to pilates, and p.s. I am still 145 so I am maintaining that weight, and hopefully I will start to loose again after another 2 weeks of intense workout :) Billy has been working out hard in the pool lately which is really awesome! He is getting me back into the pool, and I am having fun writing him workouts and working out together with him! I hope he ends up getting a gym pass!

Pizza for Dinner

So I am trying to plan what I eat today around what I know I will be having for dinner...

Billy and I are going to a ducks game tonight, and with are tickets we are also getting free pizza from this place called Oggi's. I called Oggi's and they do not have their nutritional information available (not even in store) so I called BJ's and asked what the calorie count is in a mini cheese and tomato pizza. I am assuming that the pizza I eat tonight will be similar in size, and so hopefully around the same calories. The good news is that if my assumptions are correct, it is less calories than I thought! The BJ's pizza adds up to 592 calories for the whole thing so I looked up a cheese pizza from my database (I would have added the BJ's pizza but I only asked for the calorie count) that was around the same calories and added it. the one I chose is actually 667 calories. I figured I should give myself a little extra room just in case this Oggi's pizza is more...

Also, I LOST ANOTHER POUND! I think I may have written about that this morning? But I can't stop thinking about it! I am so excited to be back down to 145! Only 10 more pounds to go before I reach my goal weight :) I went to body works this morning and as usual it kicked my butt!!! But I LOVED every minute of it!!! Tomorrow I have the MS walk which me and Billy are planning on running (partly for the workout and mostly because everyone walks and last year we were the first ones back and had first pick of free lunch and all the other freebees they were giving away!)

So now I need to go and get ready for the game tonight! I already painted my nails black and orange for ducks, now I just need to figure out what I am going to wear... I have a ducks t-shirt, but it's a little small (kid shirt) and it kinda chokes me around the neck. I am considering cutting it, but I don't want to ruin it.... although if I do manage to cut it I have a nice orange tank top I can wear under that will go perfectly! Wish me luck! :)

I'm back in the game!

So I weighed myself this morning, and I am PROUD to report that I am back down to 145! I am soooo happy! I have lost 5 pounds since I have gotten back from Lake Tahoe (less than 2 weeks). I am assuming if I continue on this path that I will also continue to loose weight and tone up my body :) This is sooo exciting! I can't wait to purchase some new bathing suits from VS later! I have my eye on a few :)

I am going to a ducks game tonight, and Billy bought us tickets that also include a free pizza. The place is called oggi's, I have never seen or heard of it except when we are at Duck's games and apparently they do not have their nutritional information up anywhere online. I am assuming it can't be any more calories than a mini pizza at BJ's (who also do not have their nutritional information up online). I will be that annoying customer who calls and asks! Maybe I will try calling Oggi's first..... So glad this will be on the phone and not in person! haha!

Nothing...

So today, I did absolutely nothing... Like I said in my last blog I have been feeling very BLAH the past few days. I think it has a lot to do with being on my period, but I also think it has a lot to do with my mind. It has been almost two weeks of working out, and I really haven't worked out this hard since I was an athlete. I go through spurts of wanting a better body and working out a couple of days, but I am starting to think this is the push between a spurt and a way of life. My body is over it and it's telling me to get back into lazy mode, but I am doing my best to try and push through it! I am starting to notice little changes in my body, and I want those changes to grow into big positive changes!

Tomorrow I am going to body works, and I LOVE that class, so hopefully it will whip me out of this funk!

It's getting hard now!

So for the past week and a half I have worked out EVERYDAY! I just started my period last night and I am feeling very BLAH! I don't want to do anything besides lay in my bed an be extra lazy. I actually dragged myself out of bed yesterday and went to step class, but at class I was not really all there and was pretty much half assing through the whole workout. I still produced a TON of sweat so that must mean I did a little work right? I came home and pretty much did nothing else all day... My room is a DISASTER and I can't stand looking at it, but I don't have the energy to clean it... UGH! I am going to pilates this morning with Ashley and we will get some treadmill action in after class. Hopefully I will have the energy to get through it.

I just keep telling myself that I want this, and my bikini body is on it's way :) Every time I look in the mirror I find that I am checking myself out, I think I can see a difference but I'm not sure if there really is one or if I am just making out like there is a difference? Hopefully there is :) haha I know that a week and a half is a little soon to be expecting a six pack, but I'm just going to keep on keeping on and work towards the best body ever!

Cheat Day...

So I decided that today will be a cheat day... I haven't logged my calories and I am not sure if I should... It's not that I ate really bad, I think I may have just eaten too much here is what I had today:

breakfast: Banana
lunch: Marie Callender's-- salad bar salad (iceburg greens, mushrooms, carrots, eggs, peas, chicken, and honey mustard dressing) and 2 small cups of tomato bisque soup. Also some fresh fruit, cottage cheese, and a tiny portion of their pasta salad.
dinner: Turnkey sandwich (on healthy bread), some kettle chips, and an apple
snack: an orange at work.

All in all not too bad... but just a lot.... so yes this will be my cheat day!

Like I said earlier, I went to the gym by myself this morning, but really it wasn't that bad. I brought my new yoga mat, and my hand weights which was awesome... but it's really hard carrying around 30 pounds in weights... so needless to say I left after my weight class so I didn't have to chug my stuff around the gym. Tomorrow is step with Roz.... I'm afraid!!!!!!

All by myself...

So today I have body works at 8:30. Amy usually goes with me, and today I had the possibility of Ashley coming too. Billy was going to meet me at the gym after the class to get our swim on... but Amy's daughter is sick so she is staying home, Ashley  is too sore to walk upstairs from her workout the last two days in a row, and Billy didn't get any sleep last night so he refused to get out of bed this morning :( And I am left with just me....

I bought a brand new yoga mat yesterday! I decided that using the ones at the gym makes me feel gross! Do they even wash those things? I know everyone sweats all over them, at least I do! I also bought some hand weights for myself :) I am not a big fan of the ones we use in body works, now I can love my weights AND do them at home as well :) yay!! Maybe I will start incorporating some video workouts in addition to my gym workouts! I do have the P90X videos :)

I am proud to say that today will be my 8th day in a row working out :) The downside to this is that I still weigh 148.... I am convinced this is because I am about to start my period and my body is just saying... fuck you I wanna be bloated! Don't worry though I have not strayed from my diet, and these workouts will catch up to my body eventually (hopefully)! Well it's off to body works for me :)

Day 7??!!??!!

So I wasn't planning on working out today. I did my six days and I was just going to sleep in, take it easy, and mentally prepare myself for next week. But a friend from work suggested the body works class this morning at 8:30 and I decided I'm going to go with her. Yesterday I did the hike (6.2 miles) but I did barely any running and just walked with my mom the entire time, so I figured that could be my take it easy day since I'm sure walking doesn't do too much for me since I'm walking all day every day and today I would do a workout :) The only hard part about this is... Amy and I do body works in the morning on Monday as well, so two days in a row of body works might be quite rough... wish me luck with that!

Billy is seriously considering buying a gym membership! He is going to come and do the 3 day free trial starting Monday and see how he likes it. I am not sure how it will be... We are planning on going swimming, I am going to try and get him to come to the body works class (it is weights) and then go swim after, but if he doesn't go for that then I will just have him meet me after the class to go swimming. I am going to turn him into a good swimmer :) This will be fun!!!

Day 6

Today is going to be the 6th day in a row that I have worked out! I am so proud of that number. I didn't make a goal about how many days I would work out or anything... my only goal was to get healthy and love my body. I think this will end up happening if I keep working out this way and eating right :)

I am going on the 5 mile hike again with my mom and our neighbors. This time though I am bringing sophia :) I'm excited!!!!

Day number 5

So I am up early and about to start getting ready for body works :) YAY! After this class I will have officially worked out 5 days in a row :) Because of all this working out I am feeling more confident in my body, and I think that in and of itself will help me to loose weight and reach my goals! I actually didn't feel too bad in my bathing suit yesterday at the pool. My only complaint would be my legs, which is always a complaint so no surprise there.

Daily Nuggets:
1. I still can't get how awesome yesterday was out of my head!
2. I don't work tonight until 6, maybe I will actually get some laundry done?
3. Sophia loved the snow in Mt. Baldy yesterday :)
4. Taking her on our 5 mile hike tomorrow, should be a blast!
5. I need to make up some flyers for my private swim lessons!

I am so impressed!

Last night I spent the night at Billy's house, I ate a too big dinner and fell asleep pretty early because I was so full and I wasn't feeling very good.... I had planned to go to the gym this morning, but fell asleep with the notion that I wouldn't go because I would prefer to sleep in AND me and Billy were both off today so we were going to be doing something. My phone alarm went of at 7am (every morning Monday-Friday) and I actually got up, went home, and went to the gym in time for step class at 8:30. I got my freaking BUTT KICKED! Man o man was I sweating during this class! We also did some abs after the class and we did the elliptical and treadmill machines for about 45 mins. So all in all I had a really awesome workout day :)

Then........ Billy took me hiking for our day off activity :) so I got another workout in!!! I feel so accomplished for today! Tomorrow is Friday and I am going to a body works class (just when my soreness was starting to go away) and on Saturday I am doing the 5 mile hike with my mom, I will have worked out 6 days straight after Saturday!!!! GO ME!

Billy and I also went to the pool after our hike, I got a little tanning in, and after all his trash talking Billy got in and I made him do a swim workout, although it was VERY short because he started complaining that it was hard ;) I was glad to be able to prove to him once and for all that swimming isn't easy!

OH and..... I ate 69% of my calories today, within my range YAY!!!

That was a shocker!

So I just finished tracking my calories from yesterday, and I am SHOCKED to find out that I did not go over my calories YAY! I was positive that after the dinner Billy made last night that I went way WAY over, but I didn't. I ate about 85% of what I am supposed to be eating (which is more than I want to be eating, My goal is like 60-70%) BUT.... I didn't go over and that is the important part :)

I also dragged myself out of bed this morning (with a still sleeping and totally comfy Billy sleeping next to me) to be able to make it to step class on time, so give me a high five for that! I went to bed last night thinking that I for sure was not going to get out of bed... So it's off to steo class for me. I am still sore from Monday and Tuesday, so this will either help or... make me more sore. Also me and Billy went rock climbing yesterday, and I think we are planning on going today as well YAY!

Yesterday...........

So I was doing SO good with my eating, until last night when I went to the yard house to visit a friend I hadn't seen for a while and ended up ordering from the happy hour menu. I should have checked the calories first because I only ate half (so I could save some for Billy) and it still cost me 900 calories!!!!!! Which also sent me way over my limit for the day. I didn't even add in the 2 martini's that I drank which I don't even want to know. Bottom line I went over my calories, I haven't done that in a long time and now I just feel like not eating at all! I am so sad about it. I am back up to 149 calories... back at the beginning with a long way to go if I want to get to 135. I went to a body works class on Monday and a Step class yesterday. Both completely kicked my butt!!! I am pretty sore, and I am planning on swimming today, which should still give me a good workout but not make me any more sore.

Tahoe... Friend or Foe?

So I just got back from a very relaxing very stress free and most of all FUN vacation in Lake Tahoe with my family and the most amazing man in the world! Although was it good or bad for me?

I admit I LOVED sleeping in until I woke up on my own, reading ALOT, eating and not thinking about  it, and overall just lounging around! I think after the stressful student teaching experience I went through the past two quarters I seriously needed a vacation exactly like this one! I must admit, I brought my running shoes with every intention of getting a run with a breathtaking view every morning but the whether did not permit for any such workouts... I was "forced" to remain inside and relax for the better part of my vacation. So in a way this was good, I needed this!

I didn't realize it at the time, but all the semi-hard work that I have been putting into getting back in shape up until now was going to be lost by my eat freely without exercising diet while on vacation. I have weighed myself twice since I have been back just to be sure, but my weight is back up to 158, and I can't say that I am happy about it. Although one good thing that is coming out of this weight gain I think is even more motivation to loose it all over again!

I am committing myself to eating healthy (and doing my best to keep track of my calories) as well as working out as much as possible! Summer is approaching quickly and I can't say that I want to be strutting my stuff in a bikini right about now, but come summer time I am expecting to have: legs that don't BULGE out of my bathing suit bottoms, outer thighs that do not contain any traces of cellulite, a non-existent muffin top, and a slight trace of a six pack! Mark my words these things will be obtained before I put on my teenie weenie bikini :) 

Another 5 mile hike!

I am proud to report I went on another 5 mile hike this morning :) and........ i went faster!! I ran the same distance, but... last week i did a little under 2 hours and today was a little over an hour and a half!!! I ran way more this time and even got my mom to run a bit!! I think this will be a weekly occurance :)

Also, I ate under my calories again today! I ate 55% of my total allowed calories. I am going to try and make sure to stay under at least 80% of what I am allowed, I think if I want to loose weight I am really going to need to make a change in my portion control as well ass what I am eating, which seems to be going well so far :)

More to come... I'm just on break at work right now and it's time for me to get back to my tables :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

hallelujah!!

I have no idea if i spelled that right... but... my student teaching is over! Im done stressing out and now its back to counting calories, working out, and best of all... blogging!!!

Just an update... i am maintaining between 145 and 148 pounds. I think at the moment i am closer to the 148 if not over... i have been feeling like I've gained weight lately (which sucks), but maybe thats been my swift kick in the pants to get my butt moving again! I went on an amazing 5 mile hike (but i double backed to catch up with my mom and did 6.3) last weekend and i am doing it again tomorrow :) last weekend i completed it in just under 2 hours. I think i completed the course at about an hour and then walked really slow to get back to my mom and really slow after to complete it. I am happy to report that i wasn't at all sore after (yay) but because of that I am planning on running more this time and hopefully getting a faster time :)

Oh a side note... i was under my calories today! Yay! And my new favorite thing is green tea love it! Actually hot tea in general. I have always liked it but im starting to drink it a lot more :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

I heart yoga!

I went to yoga this morning at the gym, because their was no school and I was actually able to get my lazy butt out of bed. Let me tell you it was worth it! I freaking love the way I feel when I step out of a yoga class... UH-MAZING!!! I wish my gym held more yoga classes! AND I think next week I am going to try and do a early morning cycling class during the week and get ready for school at the gym... we shall see!

Tomorrow I am going on a walk with my mom. We usually do this every Saturday, I am trying to get her to run some during our walk, but that is a work in progress haha!

Summer is approaching quickly, and I am doing my best to hold myself accountable for attaining a stunning beach body! Although you can say I'm taking baby steps... pretty soon though they will turn into adult steps. The amount of classes at the gym I am taking is increasing, and I am finding myself working out even while brushing my teeth (every little but helps). Right now my legs are so sore, and I LOVE IT! I can't wait to get rid of these thunders. Bu-bye old body, hello Marissa Miller body!

Okay maybe trying to attain a body this perfect is setting myself up for failure.... but I can dream can't I! AND it serves as a GREAT motivator! 

1,400 calories today! I haven't kept track in a couple of days and I must say I'm proud of myself! AND....... I've been doing little mini exercise's in the morning and before bed. Mostly targeting my legs and and abs. I'll write more later :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!!!

I'm slaping myself on the wrist for eating In-N-Out today and also for not working out. I blame it on stress because I'm taking the RICA tomorrow... but I am still disappointed in myself... The good news is even including the fast food I did not go over my suggested calorie intake (yes i counted all of my calories today)! I plan on doing some crunches and leg lifts tonight before bed. I want to say i will wake up early and work out before my test but since I'm closing tonight I'm going to need all the sleep I can get, and I will have tomorrow night off so I do plan on going to the gym and hitting up the elliptical machine :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

I'm feeling good!

I know it has been a while since I have posted, but I just wanted to update everyone and say I am feeling pretty good about myself! I have been running fairly regularly (with the exception of today... stupid work!) with Ashley and Sophia. I also had a long discussion tonight with one of my co-workers about how much I want my legs to look like hers. As you know... my legs are my problem area... so we talked about working out for a long while. In conclusion I have a few new things to add to my "to do" list for my body:

1. Drink lots of green tea (antioxidants and tummy fat burner)
2. Start going to spin classes, and utilize the elliptical :)
3. Get a jump rope!

This picture will serve as my motivation! Firm body, nice legs.... I am coming for you! It might not happen by Valentines Day which is what I was originally planning, but I am getting there! And if anything I think I am getting into the right mindset. I figure all of this is in my head, so if I can imagine myself with a nice firm body and follow though with my workout plan then... I WILL reach my goals!

I will admit, I haven't been keeping great track of my calories. I do find that's it is helpful with portion control, and it's nice to know and keep track of what I have been eating... but I felt that it got kind of tedious, and sometimes when I am in a hurry I forget to enter things into my phone. Well, this needs to be extinguished! No more lazy... no more assuming I am eating under my calories! Keeping track is making it's comeback starting tomorrow!
I have also put two gym classes into my calendar :) mat pilates on Sunday morning and then Yoga on Wednesday evening. An alarm will go off that makes sure I make it to these classes. And hopefully after next weekend I can talk myself into buying a jump rope. I think that will be an easy (and beneficial) workout that can be done within a few mins. if I am in a rush (which is most of the time). I also want to add that my legs are a little sore from doing small leg exercises like lunges and leg lifts while getting ready in the morning and brushing my teeth at night. YAY, go me! Alright, it's 11:15 and I did want to get some reading in before bed tonight, so an update will be coming soon :)

What a crazy week!

WOW this week has been everything all rolled into one. Although I must say stressful above all. Unfortunately this stress has left me feeling extremely lazy and groggy which in turn has led to no working out, and pretty much failing at keeping track of my calories. I am extremely afraid to weigh myself in the next day or two, especially after what I put my body through today! ( Billy took me out to an amazing champagne brunch AND we went out to BJ's for my sisters birthday dinner).

Even though I have been pretty sloppy lately I must say I am still on a mission to get my body back to a healthy weight. This also includes me being happy with it and feeling comfortable in anything I feel like wearing.

So what comes next? A plan of action I am guessing! I'm scared to make my goals and plans known because right now I feel like this whole blog has been nothing but me making and re-making goals and plans for myself, and never following through with anything. Well... here goes nothing!

FIRST: I heard on the Rachael Ray show on Friday (from a guest doctor) that the body and brain need four weeks at something for it to become a habit, or regular routine. I guess if thats how long it takes to make something a habit that should be  my first goal... Continue on with whatever it is I decide for at least four weeks before I decide to ditch it.

SECOND: I do believe that counting my calories really helps with my portion control, so it's back to that! Sometimes I find this difficult, like if I can't count for a particular item. (Billy is Filipino, so pretty much every time I eat with his family I know I won't be counting that meal...) BUT I do think this is important so I will start this process again.

THIRD: The working out area... this is the toughie... and the part I can't seem to keep up with! I think the most difficult part of this is that I am doing this pretty much on my own. Growing up I was always part of a team so it was easy to keep in shape because the workouts were mandatory. Little did I know that they wouldn't always be... And now working out without someone telling me what to do and a whole team doing it with me I find it a little boring. So here's my plan... I need (and have been wanting) to join something. I'm curious about masters water polo and masters swimming. The water polo might be easier at first because it won't require as much practice... I've tried to get back into swimming before and it's hard with my current schedule I figure water polo won't have practices (as often) and I can either make it to the games or I can't. Also the performance factor. I think I will always be able to jump into a pool, play polo and have fun. Swimming in a swim meet on the other hand is a little different. Especially because I know how fast I once was and I couldn't just swim in a swim meet without participating in a regular practice schedule. So for this portion of my four week trial period here's what needs to happen:
1. Find out about joining a masters team/program
2. Use Billy's Netflix password to stream workout videos :)
3. Go to the gym and/or rock climbing gym at least once a week... cuz at the moment money is being wasted!

FOUR: Lastly I am going to try and make a few changes to my daily lifestyle routine that I think are necessary.
1. Drink more water. I have been doing this for about 2 1/2 weeks now and I really think it is helping with my digestion and other areas :)
2. Get 8 hours of sleep nightly. 10:00 pm is my bedtime on the weekdays! This one will be hard to keep up with because of my work schedule, sometimes I close and will not get home until 11:30 or 12:00 on weeknights this makes it difficult, but as much as possible I WILL be getting to bed early.

Alright, now that I got everything out there... it's time for me to go to bed (it's 9:50, and I still have to brush my teeth and stuff). But wish me luck! And I am hoping to find the time to keep my progress posted, as well as keep my spirits up!

Thank God It's Friday!

One good thing about being a student teacher is that I actually have something to look forward too when the weekend arrives. Even though I still usually work at Cheesecake, it's nice to not have to worry about waking up early and jumping straight into the shower. So like the title of my blog states, "Thank God it's Friday!"

Let me just say that I had true intentions of working out with Sophia today. I packed everything I would need this morning so that I wouldn't have to come home after school. I packed my workout stuff as well as my work stuff. The bummer... I was scheduled at 5:30 and I got home around 4:30ish. I was hoping to be able to get out of school early since it was Friday... but that didn't end up happening. So my workout stuff went unused for today, and me and Sophia have a lot of making up to do!

So for tomorrow, I work in the morning and then I am hoping to squeeze a workout in after that. I would love to be able to take a yoga class, unfortunately there are none available :( In fact the class schedule pretty much stinks over the weekend! I'm going to have to come up with a better plan... I'm thinking I might go swimming... I don't quite know yet, we shall see. I am going to have to play this one by ear. I see a weekend schedule in the works (Thank God since I fell so off track last weekend!)

As for my daily intake, I am under calories!!! YAY! High five for me! I tried to upload my food diary, but for some reason it's not working... Just know that I am under in my calories for the day YAY! And I can't wait to weigh in on Monday to see where I am at. Cross your fingers that I did not go up!

p.s. I think my more lively posts will return next week.

Short and Sweet

Today was good :) I did what I set out to do which was to log my food and not go over my calories. I succeeded at both so be proud of me! I just got home from work and it's already 11:22pm I am so pooped out, so this post will be short and sweet just so I can update everyone.

Here is my food log:

I'm staying in my range of 70%-80% which is good! P.S. I weighed in on Monday (forgot to post about it) and was down to 145 lbs. Give me a air high five for that!!!! I hope that even though I haven't been doing my best in the working out department my weight since then hasn't fluctuated too much. It would be really nice to have maintained that through all of my laziness! 

Back from my Hiatus (almost).

WOW. I feel like it has been forever since I have entered a blog. It has been almost one whole week since I last wrote. I admit I had a little bit of a hiccup this past week. In my last blog I vowed to attend some classes at the gym over the weekend in order to change it up a little bit. I ran with Sophia about every day, and wanted to workout another way over the weekend. WELL.... as it turns out I didn't make it to the gym AT ALL! I know, such a lazy butt! I feel like my last blog was about me turning my life around and making all of this a routine. Then the very next day (the very next 6 days for that matter) I completely forget everything. I feel like the weekend really got me feeling lazy and unmotivated. Or not so much unmotivated, but really in need of some "rest and relaxation". This rest and relaxation poured over into the week, and here I am on Wednesday, and I haven't been logging my food or working out. (I worked out on Monday that's it...).

Well, now that I have been completely honest with my laziness... here is what I am going to do about it! I am going to jump back on the horse, and get back into it! It's funny how I was feeling so rested and full of energy last week when I was working out and eating within my RDI daily, and this week I am not fulfilling either of those things and I have been dragging all week. So here is the plan... Tomorrow I will be posting my food intake. I decided not to include any of the ones from the past 6 days because they are unfinished, and I am scared to look at them! Tomorrow I work at 5:00pm, so it will actually be hard for me to fit a workout in between school and work (OH NO I just remembered all my work clothes are dirty... when am I going to wash those???), so I might just have to skip that. I might just have to come up with a way to workout in the mornings on the days that I will be working in the evenings.... This might be something that needs to be tested out, we shall see.

So here's the plan. Post my food intake for the rest of this week, then workouts starting back up again this weekend and no more falling off the horse! Words of encouragement will be greatly appreciated!

*Note: This blog was more or less me thinking out loud about how I am going to carry on with my challenge. More lively blogs will return!

Scheduling changes lives (in more ways than one)

I say that scheduling changes lives because in the past week I have made a routine for myself and I have been diligently following that routine (It also helps that I think I'm partially OCD so not doing the routine will bother me). I see now more than ever that this is a VITAL part of making a life change. This is the part where the action or change actually becomes part of your life. So, my advice... if you are struggling to make working out (or anything for that matter) a daily occurrence... work it into your daily schedule and make it ROUTINE! That way when you don't do it, it will bother you! Like brushing your teeth :) I am positive (hopefully) that everyone brushes their teeth at least once a day. And when you do this (weather you do it in the morning, at night, or both) I bet you put your toothbrush back in the same spot every time, I bet you brush your teeth with the same hand every time, I bet you brush at the same sink in the same fashion every time! And if you don't, or God forbid if you forget to do it all together... I bet it would bother you ALL DAY! You might even go out of your way to make sure you work it into your schedule (I would hope, especially for those of you who have missed brushing altogether, EW!). Everything about how you brush your teeth is a ROUTINE! Once you make working out apart of a similar type of routine it will be a lot easier to ensure it is repeated on a daily basis.

So my routine (which will not be as "routine" as I wish it could be because my stupid serving job schedule is always different) consists of waking up, getting ready, going to school, coming home, cleaning out my lunch and winding down from school, going to Billy's to pick up Sophia and going for an awesome walk/jog! Then eating dinner and winding down by chatting with my parents, doing my get ready for bed routine, and updating my blog :)  The Sophia part has only been for two days, but I think that this will become more constant because I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the weekend (which I will test out this weekend) I will be switching it up and utilizing my gym membership to take a couple of classes, wish me luck!

Since I spent so much of this blog discussing my new and improved (hopefully efffective... I will report back on that as some time has passed) routine I will be brief tonight about my food intake. Let me just say..... I WAS UNDER CALORIES!!! This makes it the fourth day in a row that I have been under. And let me remind you that as each day goes by, the difference between the calories that I consume each day becomes smaller and smaller. Meaning that with each day that I am keeping up with my routine the amount of calories I consume is also becoming closer and closer to being the same number each day, and this isn't on purpose. I think my body is conforming to a ROUTINE! YAY!

Breakfast and Lunch

Dinner and 76% I'm patting myself on the back right now!

I hope you have found what I am writing about relevant to your life! In addition to scheduling being a big part of life changes, I think (seriously) this blog is slowly starting to become a big factor as well! (Thank you Blog!) I look forward to winding down at the end of the day in my cozy comfy bed, candle lit, and computer in lap to write and reflect on my day! You can count on me blogging for a long time to come! 

*10 FUN FACTS ABOUT ME*

1. I think I can officially classify myself as a nerd... I am obsessed with blogging! Do normal people say that?

2. My walk/run with Sophia also included my best friend Ashley, which was AWESOME! Not only did it make the workout more fun, but I talked a lot which I think gave me a better workout! Have you ever tried talking while running? It's hard work!

3. Me and Ashley spent a long while catching up which was really awesome!

4. I spent all day with my cooperating teacher at a meeting. I LOVED IT! I learned a lot of great math strategies, and more importantly a lot of "how to find a job after this" strategies YAY! 

5. Which reminds me...  My teacher will be gone tomorrow at an all day meeting in the mountains and I will be stuck in class with a Sub... ugh! Why can't this district let ME sub, I promise I would do a better job! 

6. I'm getting my blog done early tonight so that I will have time to watch Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, I CAN'T WAIT!

7. I haven't seen Billy since Tuesday :( Maybe I should learn to work him into my schedule... jk I think it needs to be him that learns how to work me into his schedule! I will always make time for that poopy pants! :) 

8. Tomorrow I have to work.... NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I hope (keep your fingers crossed for me) that I will be able to rush home and get my Sophia time in before I go to work. 

9. After about 2-3 ish years of my mouse button on my mac not working (My college roommate spilled milk on it... I KNOW RIGHT!!!!!!) I am ecstatic to report that it is now (keep your fingers crossed) working regularly! YAY!!!

10. Ashley let me borrow the book Eat Pray Love and I can't wait to start it! Although that probably won't be tonight because it's Grey's Night! 

Good night everyone! I will hopefully be able to include more pictures in tomorrow's blog. I have to remember to take them haha!

Sophia is a good motivator!

So it's official. I am out of shape! Not just like kinda sorta out of shape... REALLY TRUELY out of shape! How do I know this? I went for a walk/run today with Billy's dog Sophia and she kicked my butt! Not only that, my legs (the problem areas that I mentioned in my last blog, thighs and butt) were itching like CRAZY! I don't know if you have ever had that feeling? But it's really annoying. So (hopefully) this feeling will kick-start me into a workout routine that I will be able to keep up with.

Sophia and I after our workout

Today we started out walking (lightly) for about 15 mins. We walked around my block and ended up at Victoria Park which is right below my house. The park has a sidewalk that surrounds the perimeter. I thought walking around this (pretty large) perimeter would give me a good idea about where my endurance level is at, and if I continue to use this space I can track my endurance better. Sophia and I walked on the part that was sidewalk and ran (she pretty much pulled me) on the large grass stretch (about half and half). I figure as time goes on I will be able to increase the running section and decrease the walking section, until eventually I'm running the entire perimeter. I will keep you updated on how that goes. Overall I thought today's workout was awesome! You know I felt it in my legs since they were already tingling while I was still doing the workout. And I didn't mind having the company either.  Thanks Sophie :)

I'm proud of myself for working out today, and as I sit here typing this before I go to bed I can report that I am feeling GREAT! You know that right after you workout, great mood, healthy feeling? That is pretty much how I am feeling right now. My food intake for today was also positive. I'm just going to go ahead and say that today was awesome overall!

Here you can see my total calories for the day, and what I ate for breakfast and lunch. I have to tell you about my breakfast. It is (and will be from now on during the week) a meal replacement shake. The brand is USANA Health Sciences. The shakes are powder mixed with water, and they provide you with lots of vitamins and nutrients. They also help with sustaining energy and curbing your appetite. My favorite part, they are super easy when I'm heading out the door for school! My other favorite thing... the fun shaker bottle used to mix the ingredients!!! I know you must be thinking how can a bottle be that exciting, but let me tell you... it really is! It is the perfect size for my shake (duh... since it was made for the shake), AND it has a metal wire ball that fits perfectly inside it that acts as a blender to break up the powder while you are shaking it! After it has been shook, it has a good semi-think consistency and tastes great! I am excited to have this for breakfast during the week, and I am curious to see if it will have an effect on my weight loss.

Really cool shaker bottle

Vanilla Nutrimeal

I almost forgot to tell you about everything else I ate for today. Here you can see what I had for dinner, as well as what percentage of my calories I ate for the day. Overall very good! Yesterday and today I managed to keep my percentage below 80% YAY! ALSO I noticed today that I did not enter a snack. Usually when I get home from school I eat a snack, but today I got home way later than I normally do, and today I wasn't hungry. I wonder if that had anything to do with my breakfast?? hmm....


*10 FUN FACTS*
1. We got a new student in my 3rd grade class today. I think he will fit in well.
2. I am REALLY starting to enjoy this whole blog thing (which you probably can guess just by comparing my earlier blogs with the ones I have been writing lately).
3. I haven't worked (at Cheesecake) since Sunday, and I am off tomorrow too! YAY!
4. Uh-oh... I haven't worked since Sunday, I have no money... (good thing I didn't spend any today wither YAY!)
5. I really want a dog...
6. Did you notice I added more pictures to tonight's blog?
7. No school tomorrow, going to an all day meeting at the district with my teacher.
8. I have a newfound obsession with candles. I have always loved them (who doesn't) but I have been burning them nightly.
9. I have a new app... calming noisemaker to help me fall asleep :) I'm excited for bedtime.
10. Billy's cousin recently had a baby and I can't wait to meet her!!!

Tomorrow... working out with Ashley (she ended up having a class tonight) bring on the sore legs! Valentines day here I come!!!!

Goodnight :)