Enjoy Life to its Fullest!

The August Challenge is officially over and I reported my final weight today at 170.2. Yay I lost 3lbs in August! I know that isn't much and might be hard to understand that I am excited about less than a pound drop per week, but I learned soo much about myself during August. I hit a plateau that basically lasted the entire month and I definitely struggled through it. I learned though that it more than just the number on the scale (read this blog I talk about it more - "Numbers"). What I learned is something more valuable to me than the number on the scale. I learned that this is a lifestyle change, this is feeling good about me, this is becoming healthier and learning how to balance this all with life!

Yesterday I talked about my NSV (No Scale Victory) - "NSV!!" - and how I got into a dress that I haven't worn in a year and half. I got a couple requests to see a picture so I took one right before I changed to go work out, here you go:



I was soo proud of myself for getting into it. today I did the same thing too... another dress worn for the first time in a year and half! Here's this one too!

Yesterday though I had another NSV but this one was a bit different. It was a victory because I chose to not work out and I knew it was the right decision. I also didn't even remotely beat myself up for it. I was all planned to go work out at 4 like normal on Tuesday and then afterwards go swim for an hour and then head to one of our favorite bars for trivia and a good time. Well yesterday afternoon I realized that with my boyfriend leaving for good, moving to Charlotte I am not going to be able to hang out with him whenever like I can now. Why would I want to go swim and lose time with him? I can work out and swim till my little heart desires once he is gone, however, I want that hour, hour and a half by the time all the driving happens instead with him. I worked out a full hour instead of the 50 minutes normal on Tuesday and changed there and then headed to the bar for drink, dinner, and trivia with my boyfriend and another friend. It was the best decision I made and I don't feel bad about not swimming. In fact I am happy I didn't and to me that is a NSV! Life isn't about always working out, beating yourself up when you can't, and stressing out to get those calories burnt off. If it doesn't happen that day like you planned than life happened and know that tomorrow is another day and make it happen then or even the next day. Life is too short to worry about trivial things and I want to enjoy life to it's fullest!!!

By the way Check out what I looked like on July 31st the day before the challenge started - "August Challenge". I am going to take a picture tonight in the same clothes for a good comparison. :) Check tomorrow to see them side by side!!

NSV!!!

So the August Team Challenge on MFP is almost over. Only today is left for exercises as tomorrow is rest day and turn in results day. I went into this month losing weight pretty steadily and thought that I could step it up with this extra work. Well I hit a plateau instead and my hopeful 8 lbs that I wanted to lose will only be what looks like 3 lbs, maybe 4. However, the good news (which I have talked about before) is that it is more than just the number on the scale, but the number on my clothes that has really changed. In this past month alone my body has really been changing. I started off this year and summer even at a size 12 and a snug 12 at that. In June I bought 2 pairs of Bermuda shorts from Old Navy and debated on getting 12s or 10s because the 12s fit and the 10s buttoned but were pretty tight. I went with the 10s because I was losing weight and wanted to be able to wear them for a while and it was motivation. This past weekend I took a pair with me to Charlotte to walk around all day looking at apartments for my boyfriend. They are too big now! I kept having to pull the up and they do stretch so by the end o the day I could pull them off without even buttoning! Then this morning I decided to wear a dress to work that I haven't even tried on in over a year because I knew it wouldn't fit. I bought the dress for day conference in Houston at the beginning of 2010. That was basically the only time I wore the dress. I put it on this morning, ask my boyfriend to zip it up for me and warned him it might be a struggle to zip it up. Well there was no struggle and he easily zipped it all the way up. I turned around and just hugged him because that completely made my day! On MFP (MyFitnessPal) people talk about NSV - No Scale Victories - and today that is definitely mine! :)

It's things like this that keep me going. The scale is just a device that helps but I am not chained to it and never want to be! I love that I am becoming healthy again and to me that is the biggest NSV! This past weekend we had to eat dinner on the road both Friday and Sunday evening. I refused to have a fast food burger because I knew it isn't good for me, plus if you missed what I learned about them back in early July read this - "Eat This Not That" - you will agree with me on not eating them again! Granted Zaxby's isn't that great and I chose chicken fingers verse the salad, but sometimes the craving just needs to be killed and I had been craving chicken fingers for such a long time!

Wednesday starts the September "Tribal" Team Challenge on MFP! There is still room available on teams (mine is full) if you want to sign up and join one. It's great because you get soo much support form people that are on the same journey as you and you support each other. It  is also a great accountability device as it becomes not just letting yourself down for skipping a work out, but your team mates too and they are the ones that help you get through those last few reps or minutes that are just soo hard, but you know you can't stop! If you are interested leave a comment here, join MFP and friend me (HonestyismyDiet) or facebook me if you are my friend on there already and I will be happy to help you!!! :)

Smallest Regardless

Well I am back from Charlotte and had a GREAT time! Maybe even a little bit too much fun. :) We found an apartment for my boyfriend which was our whole motive for going, so definitely successful trip. I saw an old friend of mine for the first time in a long time. We had a lot of fun with the friends we stayed with and the drive wasn't that bad.The weird part that I can't explain is that I ended up losing weigh over the weekend! Read below and I'll explain why this is weird.

I didn't have time to work out but it didn't bother me. I enjoyed myself and that is all that mattered. I didn't let myself get all caught up and upset over not being able to work out. I was proud of myself as weird as that sounds because It didn't let it affect me at all! I struggled with that at the beginning of this journey; letting myself get upset or beating myself up a bit if I didn't get a work out. I mean it's not real life to always work out all the time. If you miss it you miss it, move on right?! Okay well that's point 1 of it being weird I loss weight, I haven't worked out since Thursday afternoon!

I went over my calorie count big time Friday-Sunday! I didn't work out as I said Fri-Sun so I only had that 1200 calories to work with. I was eating out every meal which you do when you are out of town and a drank more than I have in a while, especially Friday evening! If you are friends with me on MFP you can check out my diary, but here is the quick breakdown:
      - Friday: normal breakfast, lunch out for a work lunch had a salad with grilled fish and french onion
        soup (no croutons), dinner grilled chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-a (no top bun) and french fries.
      - Friday: drank an entire bottle of wine once we made it into Charlotte.
      - Saturday: Cinnamon Crunch bagel with low-fat honey walnut cream cheese from Panera with lemonade
        Lunch was 1/2 a #14 Bootlegger on Whole Wheat at Jimmy Johns with all the veggies and a Sprite,
        Dinner was amazing at a Mexican restaurant, plenty of chips and salsa with 2 types of salsa and then
        Enchiladas Suzias (could only eat half) with ranchero beans and veggie rice (could barely touch them)
      - Saturday: had 1 glass of wine before we left, 3 skinny margaritas at the restaurant and 3/4 of a bottle of
         wine when we returned.
      -Sunday: ate at this awesome place called "Toast" up by Davidson College for brunch at 11:30. Had this
        great southwestern scramble, red potato hash, and wheat toast and ate it all! Dinner was at Zaxby's
        which I had chicken strips, french fries, some coleslaw and lemonade.

The last reason that was I stayed up entirely too late on Friday and Saturday and was tired all weekend which never is good for losing weight. Friday "night" we went to bed after 2am at some point and got up Saturday morning at 8:30. Saturday night was in bed around 1am and up at 10am. Needless to say I crashed Sunday afternoon and got a hell of a headache. I had to take an hour and half nap in the car ride back to get rid of it. I felt bad since John was driving and drove up too but I didn't have a choice, my head was going to explode.

So anyway, no exercise, high calories, lots of alcohol, and little sleep and I lose weight!!! Here's the last 6 days of weight - someone please explain this to me!

- Wednesday 8/24: 171.0 lbs
- Thursday 8/25: 172.0 lbs
- Friday 8/26: 172.6 lbs
- Saturday 8/27: 171.8 lbs
- Sunday 8/28: 170.6 lbs
- Monday 8/29: 171.0 lbs

Apparently not doing what I am suppose to do works for me! haha! Oh well I am going to keep doing what I am suppose to do, because I know it will pay off! Here is what I have to do today for my MFP August Challenge: Monday 8/29 - Final Days make them count! 200 Jumping Jacks, 100 Crunches, 10 burpees, 10 mountain climbers, 10 globe jumps, 10 Squat Kicks, 10 ZigZag Hops! Tomorrow is the last day of the Challenge (Wednesday is a rest day before September's Challenge starts): Tuesday 8/30- Final Days make them count! Walk, Run, Jog a 5K that is 3.2 miles straight no stopping! As fast or as slow as you need to!


Well here is to being the smallest I have been in years regardless of how I got there!!! :)

Balancing the Scale: Owning the Numbers

I found this blog today and thought it was perfect in what i have been talking about! I am 26, 171lbs, 5'6" and lost 23lbs! :)

Balancing the Scale: Owning the Numbers: This is me today, no make-up, hair pulled up quick into a pony tail, clothes thrown on to take the kids up to school. I saw part of the To...

Not Reverting!

It's finally Friday! YAY! I'm excited because this weekend I am going to Charlotte with my boyfriend and I have never been there before. Sadly it's to help him find a place to live, but long term it is the best decision so I am on board. The only "bad" part about this weekend is I am not sure if I am going to have a chance to work out. I know today I won't, as it was rainy this morning so I didn't go for a walk, I have a meeting during lunch so won't be able to work out and after work I will be in a car traveling - oh well. I did pack my workout bag and brought it with me though in hopes that I can get in something at least once. I am definitely not going to meet all my MFP Agust Team Challenge daily exercise challenges this week but what can you do? I have come to terms and am okay knowing that if it doesn't happen it isn't the end of the world. (sorry team Exercists, I will do my best I just don't want to make a promise I can't keep)

Yesterday I got an email from a good friend that has been such an amazing supporter throughout my journey and someone that has been inspiring me non-stop throught this too. She has been losing weight left and right and making amazing choices that she should be soo proud of. Her goal is under a certain number by New Years and I know she will blow that out fo the water! Anyway, as I was saying I got an email from her last night and she was soo supportive. She could tell from my blog yesterday - Plateau - that I am frustrated and struggling a bit internally. Her email was exactly what I needed! She re-enforced that I am doing this journey not for the overall number, even though that is definitely a driving force, but for my health ultimately. I am not seeing results on the scale right now but I am seeing it in the way my clothes fit and how my body is transforming. That is 10 times more important than the number on a scale. She also made a great point and that out of my entire blog I never said I was giving up or reverting to my old habits of eating a whole bowl of salsa with a huge bag of chips! haha! That in itself is a small victory and what we call on MFP a NSV(non-scale victory). I did probably eat a tad more yesterday than I should have - my sister made this awesome dinner and I just kept picking at it after I was done. It was delicious and I was still a bit hungry from swimming. However, in the big picture I didn't revert and that is huge!

I realized yesterday evening after reading my friend's email (THANK YOU GIRL!!) that even more importantly than my clothes fitting better I have really changed habits, I have definitely come a ways on my journey. I have talked about portion control (Portion Control is my Mt. Everest) before and how I have struggled with it but I have made some conscience decisions and changes in my life lately that are paying off, and they are showing! I talked about it on Wednesday this week (Take on the World) how I only ate 1 gyro instead  of both. I ate the first one soo fast and instead of shoveling the 2nd one down too before my stomach had the chance to realize it was full , I stopped and let my body catch up. Before I would have definitely downed that 2nd one regardless and enjoyed every bite eveen though I would be uncomfortable afterwards. It's things like this that make me realize that the number doesn't always matter, it is the journey, the changes, the transformation, becoming healthier that really matter! The number is just the icing on the cake!

I am still going to track my number every day for a while, but it's to help me realize and analyze how I can better help myself on this journey I am on. I even brought my scale with me this weekend - yup it's packed! haha! I also found this great website yesterday thanks to a friend on MFP that can help you determine what your percentage in body fat is - Home Body Fat Test. I know it's just a website so there is some error involved, but it still gives you a good idea and in retrospect it's a good tool. Here were my results:

You have 23.7% body fat.
You have 40.5 Pounds of fat and 130.5 Pounds of lean (muscle, bone, body water).


Enjoy your weekend and remember that there is always a postive light in every situation!!!

Plateau

Okay so I have decided I have hit a plateau! I can't manage to get out of the 172ish-171ish pounds area. This whole month I have been working my butt off doing all sorts of exercises and working out. I guess I could be doing better on my food, but it's not like I have been bad. This challenge I started at 173lbs on August 1st and today I am 171? 2lb loss really that's it?!

I have been doing some reading and I did lose a lot quickly in June/July because I started doing things again and I think I shocked my body a bit. That is probably 1 factor that is contributing to me plateauing. It's not that I have been lying, but there are little bites here and there that I haven't been tracking and I know I need to be. I have been stressed out a lot lately too which makes your body hold onto everything and bloat. There are probably a whole bunch of reasons but I need to figure this out so I can keep losing.

I want to try weighing myself every day and tracking it to find out how I fluctuate. Also, looking at my food diary and determining/ watching what things affect me and see if that can help me. I know I am going to keep on trucking and working out just like I am - Jillian Michael's DVDs, cardio, strength training exercises, swimming because I know in the end it will all pay off. I just can't wait to step on that scale and see the number 6 following the number 1. I know what I am doing is working because I have dropped back into a size 8 instead of where I was a size 12. Like today I am wearing a pair of pants I haven't worn in probably a year or more because they were too tight! They are snug but not uncomfortable by any means and getting into them this morning made me really happy!

Talking about all of this helps though. I am not sad or upset about the plateau, maybe frustrated a bit. I just have to keep on going and honestly I know without the support of my close friends and family and also my MFP family I would have given up, faded off, and just reverted to old habits. That's how I got to where I was in November last year. (If you miss the pictures and the reason, check out  - "Behind the Issue(s)" to learn more about me) That's why I am doing this journey, to change habits and thinking behaviors to a healthier me. I have to keep reminding myself that this is long term and that just keep on sticking to what you know works and eventually it will!

Here's to a good day and one more step to my journey!

Take on the World

After yesterday's post I was in a great mood, ready to take on the day and very up-beat. By the end of the day that had been wiped clean. It's amazing how when things get turned upside down it can really change your perspective. I had a meeting at 9:30am with a total of 6 people. My boss had asked myself and another colleague to organize the meeting and get the research done before hand. By 10:45am yesterday he still had not made it into the building. At 11 when he got here there were things he decided to take care of first and we didn't start the meeting until noon. I had my whole day planned out and sitting in limbo for 2.5 hours really just through everything into the air. I didn't want to start anything big because I didn't want to get interrupted partially through it. I finished up some odds and ends but it was a LONG wait, and it got to be very frustrating. That basically changed my entire mood for the day sadly.

Being that it was Tuesday and I worked out at 4pm for a long cardio, I opted to help out my boyfriend and make some calls to apartment complexes and find out information. Oh I haven't mentioned, he is moving to Charlotte, NC for a great job that starts on September 12th. Sad Day! It's definitely bittersweet, but we'll make it work. Anyway, I wanted to be supportive and help out with doing the research to find a place. I ended up not getting downstairs to the gym until 4:35. I did a 10 minute elliptical session, going 1 mile, and then the circuit I mentioned yesterday in "Happy Tuesday". I really struggled to get it all done because I just wasn't in the mood anymore to take on the world you know. I got done right at 5 and through everything somehow and headed to the YMCA for a swim. I was excited about the swim though because I already had a practice written in my head and it was bumping me to 2,750 yards with some good sets! I'm finding I like swimming better than getting onto a machine and running; but that shouldn't be a surprise because that is how it has always been my whole life.

I told my boyfriend before we started that I had a practice all written and that it was 2,750. He replied that I was starting to get a lot more serious than he was and more motivated a lot faster than he was. He definitely had been coming the past couple of times for me, which I love about him. He also knows it's good for him to be swimming to, so it's a good ying and yang. I hope when he moved he keeps it up or picks something else and keeps working out, he has been doing really well with it and I am proud of him! So I jumped in and did my 900 warm-up. I was going to start my main set and asked him if he wanted to do it with me. He asked what it was (look below for the set) and after I told him he agreed and said he could do it. He even opted to lead which made me happy that he wanted to do this with me and was going to step it up. It was a hard set in that it kept your heart rate up the whole time! I also did 16x25 fly swim on the fastest interval I could hold which I picked 28 seconds (this was one of the challenge sets from the swimming challenge I am part of on MFP - Thanks girl!!). I was pleasantly surprised that 28 seconds actually wasn't that bad and on top of that I could complete 16 25s butterfly without absolutely just dying! I want to do them again in the near future (hint hint girl - haha!), maybe in a few weeks and see if I can hold 25 seconds instead.

Main Set:

1x100 IM swim @ 1:40
4x25 Fly swim @ :30
2x50 Back swim @ :50
1x100 Breast swim @ 2:00
1x200 Free pull @ 3:00
**2 times through


Later yesterday evening I was out with my boyfriend and a friend of ours a our favorite local bar playing trivia. We also ate dinner there. I chose the Gyros for dinner with black beans. There is an option for 1 or 2 and I forgot to specify so I guess 2 is the default because that is what I got. I inhaled the first one and beans - I forgot how hungry you get after swimming! I had to physically tell myself not to grab the 2nd one and just wait until what I just ate hit me to see if I needed the other one. I ate so fast that I still had the hungry feeling after I finished the 1st one that the 2nd one looked yummy. I am glad I waited because I definitely didn't need that second one. That was a small victory for me! (want to know what I am talking about - check out this blog - "Small Victories") We actually got into a conversation because our friend had lost 10lbs in like the last month because he started running again and just watching he amount he ate, but still ate whatever - stupid guys, soo not fair! I told him I had lost 23lbs in the last 10 months, 8 of which were the last 2 months. I have had to start working out again and really watching what I am eating and monitoring it. It's working but it's not fair the differences between males and females! I told him that there was definitely a time when I wouldn't have cared and eaten both gyros regardless, but that's how I gained 50+ pounds and put me where I am today.

It's funny how something so simple can make you look at things differently and last night did that. I really would have just eaten everything regardless before, now I am smarter about my decisions. Last night made me realize how far I have already come in my journey these last well really 2 months. I know I still have lots to learn and miles ahead to complete, but I know I am headed in the right direction and that definitely helped change my mood back to being able to take on the world!



PS - I weighed in today so make sure you check out "The Scale"

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday Morning! You know what Tuesday means - Long Cardio workout at 4pm today. I actually get excited about Tuesdays now, however come about 2:30pm when I haven't had a break yet I start getting a tad restless. Oh well, just more to put into my workout at 4pm! :)

Yesterday I said to check back and I would update on this weeks daily challenges. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to post them. Here they are:

Day 1: 2 sets of 20 Windshield Wipers, 3 sets of 21’s, 2 sets of Swimmer’s Press
Day 2: 2 sets of 20 Tuck Jumps, 50 Squat Kicks, 20 Globe Jumps
Day 3: 20 Split Squat Jumps, 3 sets of 20 Wood Chops
Day 4: 40 ZigZag Hops, 3 sets of 21’s, 2 sets of 15 Swimmer’s Press
Day 5: 2 sets of 20 Burpees, 50 Squat Kicks, 20 Globe Jumps
Day 6: 20 Mountain Climbers, 3 Sets of 20 Wood Chops, 3 sets of 20 Tuck Jumps
Rest on Sunday (or day of choice)
*** Link to find out how to do a bunch of the above jumps: http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/plyometricexercises.html 

We also had to pledge jumping jacks, abs, and extra miles for the team. I struggled getting all my 1500 abs in last week - I did it but it was still hard. This week I pledged to do 600 abs, 600 jumping jacks, and 5 extra miles. I'm adding 100 abs and jumping jacks to each of the daily challenge exercises and 1 extra mile for 5 days. I have found that I like doing circuits again - SHOCKING I know! I use to hate those during dryland (what swimmer's call conditioning on land), but now it keeps me motivated and I don't get bored. Like today I have 2 sets of 20 tuck jumps, 50 squat kicks, and 20 globe jumps and in addition 100 abs and 100 jumping jacks. I will most likely do 2 rounds of 10 tuck jumps, 50 abs, 10 squat kicks, 50 jumping jacks and 25 globe jumps. It will be a difficult circuit, but it will be a great burn and all that I can hope for. :)

I really am enjoying these MFP Challenges. I have always struggled coming up with things to do on my own and these challenges tells me what I have to get done and things that I can do (some very difficult, but I challenge myself and get them done). I also joined a swimming challenge where we have 1 or 2 things each week that we need to incorporate into our workouts. This week it's 16x25s fly on the fastest interval possible and 10x50s where the 1st 25 is a no breather. It's great and I am really enjoying swimming again. Who would have thought that 4.5 years later I would find joy in doing it again?!

I really am enjoying working out again. I guess after 16 years of doing nothing but, I was just burnt out and wanted nothing to do with it for a while. Unfortunately that has a consequence and 50+lbs later there I was. today I have lost 23lbs, have found a liking to working out again and have a growing passion for learning how to be healthier. I've been stuck at the 171-173lb range right now for a bit, but I know I will break through and that scale will have a 16 in it soon! :) It's not about the quick change, it's about the learning, the long term and the journey itself.

I saw a quote on a friend's facebook wall that I really liked and wanted to share:
"Quit living in a negativeframe of mind, stewing about something that is over and done. Focus on what you can change, rather than what you can't. Shake yourself out of that 'should have, could have,would have' mentality & dont' let the regrets of yesterday ruin the dreams of tomorrow!"

Enjoy your day - I know I will! :)

Retrospect

Good Morning everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I know I did. I got a lot done and really enjoyed myself. I was good too which made me happy :)

Friday I had the opportunity to go to a Pro Football game, it was 2 teams that I didn't really care for and it was nose bleed seats, but it was free tickets to NFL and that's awesome. However, I didn't work out during lunch because I wanted an afternoon off and knew I would swim after work. well the tickets through me for a loop, but in the long run I went swimming! Especially since I knew I was going to get pizza, I HAD to work out. :)

Saturday I went to a party for my good friend that is getting married in 2 weeks. A friend of theirs threw a BBQ/Pool party for them. I was a tad late because I HAD to get a work out in. She is going to laugh at this so please don't get mad at me girl! haha! I knew if I didn't do it before I went, I wouldn't get it in. I did a circuit for 30 minutes in my room of some exercises, nothing bit but it was something and I felt better afterwards which is always a plus!There was all sorts of yummy food there, however, I made good decisions again. I had a hotdog but without the bun. I passed on the coleslaw, too much mayo, brought my own beer, Michelob Ultra so I knew exactly how many calories I was drinking, and yes there was chips and salsa and that almost did me in but I was good. There was this awesome queso dip that I only had 6 chips with a tiny bit of it. All in all a good evening with friends and a good evening with choices. :)

Sunday I was suppose to work out, but I forgot something at work and had to run back. My boyfriend had a soccer game at 2pm and I knew if i skipped it to work out, since it was his last one, I would feel bad. He has been sooo supportive of me with all my new lifestyle changes, missing something he loves doing would be wrong on my part. I did clean the house and do laundry like a mad woman Sunday morning for an hour and a half, like didn't sit down going 100 mph which burned a lot of calories. Some people don't count those, but I do. I don't normally do that, so counting it as part of my daily calorie burn for me doesn't seem logical. I clean little bit here and little bit there all through the week and don't count that. It is when I go to town that I count it; i think that makes sense. haha! Anyway, I then had a great dinner, and even had some room to "step-it up" by putting blue cheese on my grilled steak and had some red wine. YUMMY!

All in all my weekend was good. The hard part was getting on the scale on Sunday and it didn't change again. I just don't get it. I am doing things right, staying within my calorie count, working out, and being positive. I don't know if I am working out too hard, what I mean is working out at cardiovascular levels verse fat burning levels. I am going to try backing off the "crazy" this week and try to get some perspective on what I am doing. In retrospect though I have lost 2 pants sizes! To me that is huge! I am definitely slimming up which is great and also toning. I know I am getting healthier because I am working out again and you can't put a price on that. I just have to find it in me to be okay with this for now. The pounds will continue to fall off in time. I just need to keep on truckin and I will get there. I just wish it would come sooner than later, all this hard work needs a pay off you know. Especially when I see friends on MyFitnessPal (MFP) losing weight all the time. It's all about retrospect and I need to find mine and I will get there!!!

****Check back shortly for the daily August Team Challenge exercises. they aren't posted yet so as soon as they are I will post in case you want to follow with me too!!!

"Struggled"

Yesterday I "struggled" a lot with working out. Here's what I mean:

1.) 11:30 comes, normal lunch workout time and I head downstairs to go change. I'm unpacking my bag with my stuff and realize I didn't have any shorts! I did however pack 1 t-shirt, 2 sports bras, and 3 pairs of socks. WTF!?!?! haha I guess I was still asleep when I was packing my workout bag yesterday. HAHA! Needless to say my workout partner and I decided to use the "struggle" as an opportunity to go eat out for the first time in a while. Unless I have something for work I always work out and bring my lunch hand so does my friend. We rarely eat out so that kinda ended up being a nice treat. We went to Salsarita's - if you have one near you GO! It's delicious and fresh but stay away from the Pico de Galo because oh WOW sodium! Their website is great too because it has a build your own so you know what you get. I love these! :)

2.) I still wanted to get a work out in so I headed to the YMCA after work yesterday for a work out. My initial goal was 30 minutes of the elliptical and then my August Team Challenge exercises in a circuit afterwards. I hoped on the machine and plugged in 35 minutes, I was feeling good so what's 5 more minutes?! Ya WOW I was really "struggling" yesterday pushing myself. I don't know if it was the high levels of sodium the past 2 days or what but I really struggled. For 35 minutes it was 5 minutes warm-up, 5 minutes hard/fast, 5 minutes easier, 5 minutes hard/fast, 5 minutes easier, 5 minutes hard/fast, and 5 minutes recovery. I made it through the 2nd hard/fast and I really just wanted to quit! That was only 20 minutes. I didn't think I could do another 15 minutes and especially another 5minutes of hard/fast so I opted to at least stick it out for the 30 minutes I originally planned for but did those last 10 minutes on the easier setting with the last 2 minutes recovery. Even though it wasn't as great of a cardio session as I have done in the past, it was a small victory because I was "struggling" and I pushed myself to not take the easy road and hop off the machine, but instead listen to my body, slow it down a bit, and make it through.

3.) I next did my circuit: 50 jumping jacks, 12 wood chops, 1 set of 21's, and 50 abs four times through. I Gathered my equipment I needed over in a little cubby area with a mirror. I got through half way and was on the 3rd set and on the Wood Chops using a kettle bell when a lady next to me said the following to me:
    
     "WOW are you a swimmer you have huge shoulders?!" I replied with, "I use to be, but retired 4.5 years
     ago." She then came back with and I quote: "Well you have really kept your strength and muscles
     definition up then over those 4 years."

I just said "Thank you" but inside I wasn't sure how to take that. I hadn't done anything in 4.5 years except gain weight. I hadn't swam a lap until about a monthish ago and really hadn't lifted a weight until about 2 months ago. I s"struggled" with that as it kinda stung a little bit for a second, but then I thought about how big my shoulders use to be when I was swimming - serious linebacker! haha! Even if I had lost weight, the structure was there and I wasn't going to lose that bulkiness in my shoulders. Yes there is more fat there then there use to be but I am always going to have big shoulders, it's just part of who I am. What I am doing now is working on toning them, working on losing weight, working on getting back into shape. They will stay large, but the fat will go away slowly and that is what I focused on instead!


Yesterday I did "struggle" in many different ways, but like I said in my blog yesterday - "Emotional Roller Coaster High", life can't be "peachy-keane" all the time. It has it's ups and downs and yesterday had a couple of each. It's about turning lemons in lemonade as corney as that might sound. How can I take something that I know I will "struggle" with and make it into a positive situation? Experience and learning is the only way those things can happen and that's what I am doing now, learning how to turn my "struggles" into something I am proud of.

Happy Friday and I hope you have a great weekend!



PS - Before my birthday I told you in a blog on July 19th - "Being healthy is the goal" that I bought a dress at one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie, for my birthday and that I would post a picture. I haven't forgotten, I was just waiting on getting all the pictures from my birthday and then picking one that I liked the best. Unfortunately I wasn't thinking and didn't take one full length, but this one is cute and you can see a lot of the dress. Here you go!

 

Emotional Rollar Coaster High

Yesterday was a bit of an emotional rollarcoaster  for me but in the end I was really proud and happy with myself in how I handled it all! That is something that I am really learning how to do on this journey, deal with things and how it effects my emotions. Every day can't be great and "peachy-keane". It's definitely great when days are like that, everything goes well just how you like it and great but that's not life at all! Life brings with it the ups and downs and yesterday was an interesting day.

As you know from yesterday's blog - Numbers - I weighed myself and I gained a little bit. That kinda put me down a bit in terms of emotionally during the day. I did make a good choice at Chili's (even though regardless of my choices in terms of my normal lunch it was still high!), even kept my chips and salsa consumption of a minimum which is impressive for me. :) haha! Then at the after work function I only had 1 small glass of wine and about 6 chips with salsa. I instead stopped by Pita Pit afterwards for a much healthier meal. (If you haven't ever been to Pita Pit and there is one where you live definitely go check it out! It's delicious!!! On their website too they have a build your own so you can figure out what to get before you get there and no surprises. Love those options on websites now.)

I was headed to my boyfriends and decided that since I barely had any calories left for the day I would do a quick workout; go for a quick run, do my daily August Team Challenge exercises and some of the abs that I pledged for the week (1500 abs this week - I upped it to 1500 from 1000 to help my team reach our 20,000 ab goal). I changed into my workout clothes, which by the way I got my first running sports/bra Dri-Fit top (not the top I have but similiar) the other weekend, it's a Nike and Oh WOW that thing is great! Built in sports bra, sweat bands in the right places, mess like back to keep you cool, I have never been so comfortable running because I stayed cool. For someone that doesn't sweat very much and just over heats, this top was the best thing ever. I will definitely be looking to buy more of those soon! Anyway, I got out and initially was only going to run to the beach and back, just a quick maybe 20ish minute run. Well I got to the beach and it was gorgeous, the sun was coming down, it was cool and the breeze was perfect, I had never run on the beach before and I decided today was going to be that day. I walked down to the wet packed sand and off I went. The slight give under my feet of the packed wet sand felt wonderful on my legs that were sore, the breeze as it hit my face was calming, an the sun going down making the water shine was relaxing. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end my day. I saw a large American flag down the beach a ways and decided that was my goal. I ran there and back, walked back up the beach and ran back to my boyfriends. My 20 minute run turned into a 45 minute run! I also got these great new shoes last weekend, Asics GT-2160, FABULOUS shoes! I use to get some pain in my shins, not yesterday at all! I am really looking forward to running again with these shoes.

I got back to his house and it was dark. I needed to do my daily August Team Challenge exercises. It was 200 jumping jacks, 20 lunges per leg, and 100 mountain climbers per leg. I decided to make it into a circuit and did 4 rounds of 40 jumping jacks, 5 lunges per leg, and 50 (25 each leg) mountain climbers. I then went inside and did 300 abs. A total of 1 hour and 5 minutes of working out. Talk about exceeding expectations yesterday! The beach though was amazing - it really mellowed me out and I really enjoyed running out there.

I was debating after work on the way to my event if I really was going to work out once I got to my boyfriends. I had never done that before, worked out and left him. However, once I got to my event a good friend of mine told me she saw me walking in and told me I looked amazing! That 1 comment alone was what I needed to convenience me that yes I definitely should go work out. It is worth something and I wanted it. She may not even know that that 1 simple comment made so much of an impact on me, but it really did and I definitely have her to thank for the amazing run on the beach yesterday! Also when I got back to my boyfriend's and finished working out we ate our Pita Pit. He was soo sweet and waited for me. But afterwards he told me that he was really proud of me for everything I was doing and the dedication I was putting forward to getting back into shape. That really meant the world to me! I couldn't stop smiling and it just validated to me that what I did, the workout was definitely the right decision. I was definitely on an emotional high last night!

Yesterday was a big success for me and really helped me to get remotivated and back onto the right path. I thought about weighing myself this morning but I don't need to. I will on Sunday for the challenge results reporting for the week, but until then I am not getting on the scale. I am just going to do what I need to do and I know that it will all work out! :)

Numbers

Okay many of you might be wondering did I lose 13lbs over night?! No I didn't lose it over night but I have lost 21lbs total over the last 10ish months (it was 23 until I weighed myself this morning - boo!). I decided today to change my starting weight to the 194 which was my heaviest vs the 178 which is what I started at on MyFitnessPal a month and half ago. That is what changed the number you see on the right hand side. This is a long journey not one I just started so I decided to show and be proud of the total number!

I have been embarrassed of the 194 number for a long time now. It's not like I haven't shared it, you can find my fist post that I was truly honest with myself and everyone - "Behind the Issue(s)". Even though I have put it out there I haven't really embraced it and taken ownership of the number 194 where I started. Yesterday I decided to embrace that number, 194, and be okay with it. It is not something to be ashamed of at all. No number is, no matter what it is; if you can take ownership of it and responsibility that you are the one that got there and you are the one that can change it no number is shameful.

The key there is taking ownership and responsibility - knowing that it is your doing and no one elses, not blaming anyone but yourself then you can do something about it. That is what my blog is all about, being Honest with myself, being honest with my family, my friends, and others. I can't truly be truthful if I don't accept the past, acknowledge the past and take full responsibility. I know I let myself slip and didn't take care of myself the way I should have. I use to snicker at some of the retired swimmers when they would come back and would have gained a bunch of weight - yes I know it's terrible but true, and I always said I would never let myself slip, that I would get my butt into the gym and eat right. Ya I definitely didn't do that. It is a lot harder than said, but the fact is I was a hypocrite and I do apologize for for making fun of them. I guess it was payback huh!?! hahaha!


So this morning is weigh-in day. I was excited to get onto the scale because yesterday was a killer work out day for me! I burned 1205 calories yesterday - 409 calories on the elliptical for a 5K, a mile on the treadmill for 124 calories, 155 calories for circuit of military presses, woodchops and abs, and 517 calories swimming for 40 minutes. I ate a good dinner to make sure and replenish my body and even treated myself to 2 beers since I was out at a bar with some friends playing trivia. Nothing crazy. I get on the scale this morning and it is 172.8. :(  I was 172.4 last Thursday (missed Wed) and then 171.0 on Sunday. I am really bummed about the increase because I am working so hard. What happened? Oh well I guess I will just have to keep working that much harder and next week hopefully will be a lower number! MFP (MyFitnessPal) even told me when I hit complete the day that I would weigh 158lbs after 5 weeks of exact days like yesterday. That is the lowest it has ever told me so with that I really was excited about the scale. The only thing I can think of is the sodium did spike at dinner, maybe that was it? What I do know is I will not let this ruin my day and will keep going strong!

Small Victories

Have you ever thought to yourself how many little victories you have with yourself that no one knows about or would understand? I have been having a lot of those lately I feel like which I am loving!

I know I stopped exercising 4.5+ years ago because I was burnt out, however, it lasted that long because I was sacred to fail. I had that issue while I was swimming in college, and once I got over it I began to swim well again. I had that same fear with working out again or eating correctly now. I didn't know how to exercise like a normal person, nor eat like one and I didn't want to fail at it. I didn't want to change my mindset. These past 2 months have really opened my eyes to a lot of things as I finally got enough courage to accept failure if it came, pick myself and keep trying. I am working out again, and not just strapping on some running shoes and heading out the door, but really working on what's best for me for my body. This August Challenge has been great because it is forcing me to do these exercises that I was fearful of doing again. I mean who actually likes doing Burpees - NO ONE! But everyone that has done them knows that they are a great exercise and I am doing them. I got back in the water for the first time in a long time (thanks to my great boyfriend who I thank!) and am really enjoying it again. I am pushing myself again internally again and really enjoying that mental battle again. That is a small victory that I love!

I am also learning how to eat like a normal person. No more 3000-3500 calories per day anymore; there is no need! I am learning how to substitute certain things I use to eat for a healthier and even sometimes tastier alternative. I am making choices like not to use butter but fresh lemon instead, or limiting myself with the "free" bread at dinner tables. Asking myself if I really am hungry or am I just eating to eat. I see on MyFitnessPal every day people putting up small victories and it really makes sense to me! One lady said she took her kids to the park to go walking together and an ice cream truck came by. She bought ice cream for them but not herself which she would have normally done. Instead she came home and cut up some cantaloupe and put some cold fat free cool whip on top for a sweet healthy treat. She was so proud of herself for the personal small victory. It is things like that that really keep me motivated, striving and looking forward to my next small victory. Like my decision to pass up as I drive by Chick-fil-a my favorite morning treat, a chicken biscuit from there. Instead I come to work and make myself a plate of some hard boiled eggs (1 with yoke, 1 without), fat free and no salt cottage cheese, and some sort of fruit. It is healthy, tasty, fills me up, and gets me going in the morning. To me that is a small victory everyday. I don't buy chips for breakfast either anymore - yes I really did do that, and often.

Yesterday my victory is I went swimming and I didn't feel half bad in the water! It still is a challenge but it is definitely getting easier and I really noticed it yesterday. I did 2,200 yards, the most I have done thus far and I think I could have kept going and hit 3,000 but I know my boyfriend really didn't want to swim yesterday and was only there for me. Plus he was sick the day before and still not feeling 100% yet. For his sake I quit at 2,200 after a "long" aerobic set. We are going back today, maybe I will try for 2,500. :)

What are  your small victories? What keeps you going? I know mine and would love to hear about yours too!!!

FABULOUS Weekend!

GOOD MORNING!!! I couldn't be in a better mood this morning! I had a FABULOUS weekend that I don't even care it's Monday. As I said on Friday, my parents were in town this past weekend and we had a great time. They stopped by my office on their way into town on Friday morning. That completely made my day because I didn't have to wait to see them until I left work. They met my boss and I showed them around my office. I felt proud to show them where I worked and my space, proof that I am all grown up and stuff you know. haha I left work shortly after lunch and headed home to spend the rest of the day with them. We ran some errands and went by this fish market that was a bit far away but wow was it worth it. I saw them fillet out Grouper right in front of us before we bought it; it was sooo fresh and delicious. I also got to enjoy fresh shrimp that night too. :) Happy Days!

Saturday my parents took us shopping - what girl isn't going to enjoy that! :) We went out to the Outlet Mall for sales and "Tax Free Weekend"! I got sooo many new things, it was amazing! I couldn't be more thankful though to my parents for that, I really got some great stuff. The BEST part was that I bought 3 new pairs of pants and ALL 3 were size 8!!!!! I haven't been a size 8 in probably 3 years! Seriously it was amazing and it wasn't like it was just 1 store, Black & White, Gap, and Ann Taylor I was an 8 in all 3 stores! :) I literally did the happy dance in the dressing room open area when I was showing my mom and sister. I also bought some medium tops too, some were still larges, but to get a few that were mediums and they fit great was amazing. I didn't even have to buy anything, just knowing that I am now those sizes definitely could have been enough for me. However, getting to wear them is that much better too :)

I was also proud of myself because we went to a BBQ place for lunch and instead of ordering what I normally love, I opted for the salad bar with a side of pulled pork. I dumped the pork on the salad, put bbq sauce on top and made a fantastic BBQ pork salad! Definitely A LOT better than I would have ordered in the past and I didn't miss anything. Okay maybe the garlic toast, but come on, who doesn't LOVE a good piece of garlic toast. haha! I did take 1 bite just to make sure it was alright for everyone else to have. :) hehe  That evening we went to a friend's house for dinner. Their parents and ours are friends and we thought it would be a great time. We had burgers and to cut out some of the calories I only put a bun on the bottom for support, but the top I used a piece of lettuce. I still got the bun, still got what I wanted, but cut out some carbs and calories that I didn't need. I was proud of myself for my choices on Saturday! I still went over on calories which I was bummed about, but it was all in the chips and dip before dinner. I just can't help myself with chips and dip! :) Oh well there are worse things in life!

Sunday was another great day. Spent some quality time with the parents in the morning. We then headed out to southeast of town where the military base is. This is also the area that we use to live 20-21 years ago. We went by an old family favorite restaurant for lunch and I enjoyed a pound of crab legs that was on special! I didn't use the butter but instead lemon juice - yay me! :) We then stopped by and saw our old house together that was really neat. I even remembered exactly how t o get to my best friend's house from my old house. Next we went by the Elementary School I went to Kindergarden and 1st grade at. I walked straight to my kindergarden classroom (I have a memory that rocks apparently!) and was pleasantly surprised to find my same kindergarden teacher was there in the same room! Since it was a Sunday no one was there (it's an open campus and how I was able to walk and find the room) so I left her a note and put it into the door. I hope I hear from her because that totally made my day!!!

Later that afternoon my boyfriend and dad met for the first time! It went really well and what was even better was that he totally did not feel well, in fact he got sick before he came over. He knew it was important and yet he put a smile on, cleaned up and brought 2 bottles of wine over. He didn't eat with us because he wasn't feeling well, but it went well and this morning before my dad left to return home he told me that my boyfriend was a really good guy and he was very happy for me. That is HUGE for my dad to say that, and it meant the world to me!

All in all a GREAT weekend! I am looking forward to this week. Oh in case you want to join here is week 3 daily challenges for my August Team Challenge I am doing on MyFitnessPal:

Week Three Daily Exercise Challenge Daily Exercise = 1 point per member per day. If everyone does it you will be awarded a 5 point bonus for the team!


WELCOME BACK FROM YOUR DAY OF REST WE’RE STARTING WEEK #2 YOU ARE NO LONGER BEASTS YOU’VE MOVED ON TO MACHINES!

Day 1 Exercise Challenge - 50 Squat Kicks* and 3 sets of 12 Woodchops (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSu-wci9uTo ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkhATg1-b9g&feature=relmfu )

Day 2 Exercise Challenge – 50 Military Presses + 1 Extra Mile jog, walk,run + 3 sets of 21’s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9WeqqMeJAM&feature=related )

Day 3 Exercise Challenge – 200 Jumping Jacks + 100 Mountain Climbers + 20 Lunges (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI8u58hPam4 )

Day 4 Exercise Challenge – 3 sets of 21’s + 200 Jumping Jacks + 3 sets of 12 woodchops (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xLcsg-5Dw8 ) 21’s The video is a little long sorry.

Day 5 Exercise Challenge – 100 AB Crunches + 50 Burpees (Oh yes they are back) Up/Downs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKKKNR5USXc )

Day 6 Exercise Challenge – Walk, run, swim, jog, bike 2 miles today. That’s it you’ve kicked your own butt this week!

Day 7 Rest! You deserve it!

Week Three Weekly Team Challenge Team Challenge as a team to do at least 4000 ab crunches for the week. So a team of 20 would need each person to do 200 Crunches extra for the week. Let’s burn that belly fat away! *Feel free to do these exercises in sets if you are unable to do them all at one time. Please do your best as you are much stronger than you believe. Please note each week the exercises will increase in difficulty. This will push each team member. Modifications will be provided for those who unable to complete the exercise as intended.

I PLEDGED 1000 CRUNCHES FOR OUR TEAM! WE ARE UP TO SOMETHING LIKE 8000+ FOR OUT TEAM ON PLEDGED CRUNCHES! YAY US! :) OH AND AFTER WEEK 2 WE WERE 2ND!!!



HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!! :)

TGIF!!!

This morning I was curious and got back on the scale - 171.6! Yay 0.8lb loss. I was really bummed when I got on the scale yesterday and didn't lose anything. I am not going to record anything on "My Scale" today here on my blog - I am going to go with Wednesday next week and use Thursday's #. It just helped today to know I am still moving in the right direction. I have been working really hard and it just gets frustrating you know when the scale doesn't move or moves in a direction you don't want to.

I go up again this morning - GO ME! and worked out. i didn't go for a walk but I needed to do my daily challenge exercises from yesterday and today. 3 sets of 21's, 100 jumping jacks, 50 globe jumps, and 100 more jumping jacks. I threw some crunches in there too and got 20 minutes worth of exercises in. Those globe jumps - HOLY COW those are hard to do! This morning I knew I had to get up because my parents are getting in town this morning and it would be a lot harder to get them in tonight. I still have to do 100 stair climbs and get in 1 of my extra miles I pledged but I know I will be able to do that so I am not worried.

This weekend is going to be a GREAT one! My parents are going to be in town which I am soo excited about. I haven't seen my dad since Christmas and my mom since April. My family is very close so that's a long time and it will be great to spend time with them. In fact, they are stopping by my office since they pass by it to say hello and meet my boss. I'm happy i don't have to wait until the end of the day to see them! This weekend my boyfriend is also going to meet my dad for the first time! He met my mom in April, but since my dad wasn't able to come then, this will be their first meeting. He is nervous which is super cute, plus it means he cares which I love. I know things will go great because so far he likes everything he has heard. It's just a tad nerve-recking you know, the first time your boyfriend meets your dad! You think I would be nervous eating, but I really have been good which is great - thank God! I am actually looking forward to Sunday when they will get to meet.

Well I don't know if I will have time to write anything this weekend, so definitely check back on Monday and I will let you know how it goes! Btw - I set a goal to this week for my Team Challenge to hit all my targets and that includes calorie counts so I am going to be a good girl this weekend just you watch! :)

There isn't a Snooze Button in life!

Happy 50th Blog to me! :) Wow I can't believe that I have done 50 blogs now. I know in the realm of blogging 50 isn't that many, but to think that I have kept it going and not given it up for 50 is a big accomplishment for me. I am not one to start things that not finish, but if I get bored with something it can take a back seat for a while you know?! Anyway, one of my best friend's told me this had to be my best one yet - I'm not sure if it will be that, but I have something good. :)

This morning my alarm went off at 6am so I could go on a walk with Wrigley and knock out another mile for my 5 extra I pledged this week for my August Team Challenge on MyFitnessPal. It went off and I hit the snooze, 6:05 I did the same thing, 6:10 again and at 6:15 I turned over and had a conversation with myself about if I really should do it. It's essentially the same one you have on the days that you don't want to work (haha), trying to bargain with yourself, trying to come up with scenarios that might actually work, and lastly lying to yourself to make yourself feel better. I started to doze off and caught myself at 6:22. I rolled over again and went to reset my alarm to continue sleeping and set it for 6:35 - that's when I stopped for a second and was like is 13 more minute really that big of a deal? I dragged my pathetic butt out of bed, put on shorts, a sports bra, t-shirt and shoes, grabbed Wrigley's leash and out the door I went for my mile. I turned Pandora on and away I went. However, the humidity pretty much slapped me in the face when I walked out the door which I did have a split second thought of "well should I...?" That pasted faster than the thought was long. Wrigley was soo happy to go for a walk and that really does help and motivate me to push forward.

The only thing I didn't have time for was I was going to do my challenge daily exercises after my mile; that was the plan when I went to bed last night. However, because I struggled internally to get my lazy butt out of bed I didn't have time to do them. tonight is 3 sets of 21s and 100 jumping jacks. Looks like I will be doing them after I swim tonight. Oh ya I didn't swim last night after work because someone forgot his swimming stuff! haha! It's okay because I didn't get out of a meeting downtown until 5:40 so it allworked out. He can have a pass for now - hahaha! :) jk Tonight we are going to swim instead and that woks for me since I won't be able to work out during my lunch hour today because I have a long lunch meeting off site.

This morning was a tad ridiculous looking back! I really was bargaining with myself over sleeping for a couple more minutes that in reality wouldn't matter. It's funny how we do that from time to time with so many things in our lives. We try to lie to ourselves to make us feel better about making a decision that we know probably was not the right one just because we didn't want to do it at that time. I don't know why I am soo sarced of mornings, it's not like I am getting up an hour or even 2 before I normally would. My alarm is set for 6:25 every morning during the week; granted I don't actually roll out of bed until 6:45ish. It's bad because I use to hear the alarm and jump out of bed and now it takes LOTS of snoozes to do the job. I am setting my alarm 25 minutes earlier at 6am, knowing I will prob hit snooze once or twice to go for a measly 20 minute walk with my dog for a mile!  I know the mornings I have done it, okay yesterday and today, I have been really glad I did it afterwards. What is the big deal?! There isn't a snooze button in life and I need to learn that, get up and just do it!

I hope everyone has a great Thursday! :)



FYI - Weighed myself this morning and and I didn't lose anything, but I also didn't gain anything so I am chalking it up as a win! :)

Intrigued?

Today is weigh-in day ---- OOPS! I remembered last night but this morning, ya it definitely didn't cross my mind until I pulled into the parking lot at work. Oh well, tomorrow morning I will make up for it. I actually already set an alarm on my phone to remind myself. You know I should just set a weekly alarm to go off every Wednesday morning. Girls do it all the time for their birth control pills, why couldn't I do it to remind myself to weigh in?! Yay good idea Meghan! :) haha! Okay that is done now too.

I am going swimming again tonight. Monday was an interesting day for me as the Master's Program was in the water at the same time. The nice thing about swimming with my boyfriend is he is at the same place as me, well maybe a tad better, but I don't feel bad swimming next to him. Monday I was swimming and this guy next to me who was probably approximately the same age was swimming laps around me in the Master's Program lanes. They were doing 3,800 yards for practice and I thought to myself, "Wow that is soo far"! hahahaha! I miss that feeling of just feeling great in the water. Being able to pull yourself through it was ease and not even thinking about what you are truly doing. My body knows what to do now, it just can't, and I have to physically think about what it should be doing, especially when I am tired.

I am really enjoying swimming again though and will definitely keep it up that is for sure, and I know with some more time these things will start to come back. It's just weird to me since it was second nature for me for the majority of my life. The good news is that I am not discouraged, in fact I am slightly inspired to see what I can do again in the pool. As much as the Master's Program kinda made me feel "bad", it also intrigued me - maybe down the road I will join that one or another one. I actually asked when they practiced and they practice 4 times a week; 2 afternoons, 2 mornings. I did cringe when she said mornings though, I really don't do mornings! :) haha! We'll see... only time will tell! For now my 40ish minutes and around 2,000 yards is doing me just fine!

Celebrate Life!

August 9th 2010 I almost lost someone very close to me. Today a year later, this person is celebrating life today to it's fullest! I am so very thankful to have this person in my life still, as I truly am not sure what I would do without them.

I woke up this morning and actually got out of bed at 6:10am (I know not to early for some but for me that is early!) and went for a walk with my dog to reflect on the last year for not just myself, but mostly about the loved one I thankfully still have in my life today. I walked 1 of the 5 miles I pledged for my team's 100 miles challenge this week. I thought about how much I bitch and complain in the mornings about how I don't want to get up early or really just out of bed period. Today this person got out of bed and realized they very well could not have and went and sat on the beach to watch the sunrise and take in the day. If they could do that, I definitely could get up and walk my dog for 20 minutes, 1 mile in the morning.

We take so many things for granted each day and bitch about the others and don't think that they could very well be taken away from us in less than a heartbeat. I realized this morning that this journey for me is  much more than just losing weight and learning how to to be healthy again, it is about life and learning how to enjoy and love it to its fullest! I have said it before, "Life is too short to dwell and worry about the things that don't matter!" That's truly what I am learning on this journey and love it. I had a blast on Saturday with my girlfriend and many other friends for her bachlorette party. No I didn't stay within my calorie count nor did I get a workout in that day but it didn't matter in the long scheme of things. I am not going to remember that a year later when I am talking about the evening, I am going to remember that I had a great time celebrating that she is going to marry a great guy! That is what life is all about, enjoying it! Being healthy so you can enjoy it that much longer is the key and what I am striving for on my journey. However, just like food before controlled my life and caused problems in weight and control issues, now that I am learning to be better with it, I am not going to let it control me in a different way.

Celebrate Life today! Hug those you love a bit tighter and tell them you love them more often, live life the way you want to and enjoy it everyday because it's short and we should cherish all those in our lives!!!

Have a GREAT Tuesday! :)

Surprised

Each weekend presents new challenges that I have to deal with. I knew this would happen, so it's no "surprise" but they still sneak up on me I feel like. Saturday I knew I had a bridal shower and then later the bachlorette party. I knew that I would be over if I didn't work out, so Friday when I went to bed I figured I would wake up go work out and then start my crazy day. Well that is what I thought until I woke up at 11:15am and realized I still had to get up, shower, eat, look presentable, and run by target for a present. There was no time to work out!

I wasn't sure about food at the party so I ate something before I left. I then ate some things while I was there too and some wine cooler stuff. I knew we were going to go out too later and there would definitely be drinking involved; it's a bachlorette party! I had a bit of time to kill so I met my boyfriend and his friend at a bar they were hanging out at before dinner for a bit. I was good because I didn't have a beer even though I really wanted one. I wanted to save it for later that night. I didn't really need one then anyway. At dinner I knew I only had 403 calories left for the whole night. There was NO way I was going to make it and drink. I really was wishing I had worked out, but at the point there was nothing I could have done. I struggled though, should I just get what I really want, I mean I was going to go over my points regardless, or should I still be good and keep it to a minimal? I battled for a while and in the end I chose to be good. I ordered a chicken breast sandwich that had a grilled pineapple on top with lettuce and tomato, no condiments with a side salad. I chose to not eat the bread to help out. I felt really good about my decision and it was delicious and filled me up without being stuffed. There was even some fried calamari that was ordered for the table and I snacked on a few pieces but nothing too much.

I stuck to Michelob Ultra that night because I knew they were 95 calories each and I could keep track of them easier. Trying to judge what is in a mixed drink would be difficult. I did take one shot with the girls, but it was just straight tequila, so again, easy to track. The struggle is that I really felt bad going over and that I didn't work out. I had just written a blog on planning ahead (Planning is your Best Weapon) the day before and I failed on it the very next day. I had to put it all aside and enjoy myself, not go all out on the food, and alcohol. I was a bit apprehensive to put the numbers in for Saturday and in fact didn't until Sunday evening. What I was surprised with was that I only went over by 332 calories. It wasn't like it was something crazy! I was pleasantly surprised! :)

This week my parents are coming into town on Thursday night and will be here through the weekend. That will definitely present a challenge, but I know if I stay strong, get my work outs in, and just be level headed I will get through it with flying colors. I wasn't able to report to my August Team Challenge that I made my calorie count every day; only Saturday I didn't make it. This week my goal is to be able to say I made it every day! Below is this weeks challenges! Feel free to do them too if you want! :)


AUGUST CHALLENGE WEEK 2: Unleashing the Beast Within!

This is the week two team challenge. This should be done in addition to your normal workout routine. This is a challenge and is not a replacement! If you need a beginner workout please contact your team captain for ideas.

Week Two Daily Exercise Challenge
Daily Exercise = 1 point per member per day. If everyone does it you will be awarded a 5 point bonus for the team!
WELCOME BACK FROM YOUR DAY OF REST WE’RE STARTING WEEK #2 YOU ARE NO LONGER ROCKSTARS YOU’VE MOVED ON TO BEAST MODE!

Day 1 Exercise Challenge - 50 Squat Kicks* (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSu-wci9uTo )

Day 2 Exercise Challenge – 50 Swimmer’s Presses + 1 Extra Mile jog, walk,run(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYwzaUXK6gs) * You may use cans of soup or bottles of water if u don’t have weights

Day 3 Exercise Challenge – 50 Sit ups or Ab Crunches* + 50 Mountain Climbers
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI8u58hPam4 )

Day 4 Exercise Challenge – 3 sets of 21’s + 100 Jumping Jacks (Bicep Curls may be done with cans of soup or bottles of water if you don’t have any weights)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xLcsg-5Dw8 ) 21’s The video is a little long sorry.

Day 5 Exercise Challenge – 50 Globe jumps + 100 Jumping Jacks + 100 Stair Climbs (jog or run)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKKKNR5USXc )

Day 6 Exercise Challenge – 40 Shoulder Presses + 1 extra mile + 50 crunches
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpWrzp9Mnyg) Shoulder Press

Day 7 Rest! You deserve it!

Week Two Weekly Team Challenge:
Each team must coordinate a 100 mile walk, run, jog outside of their normal running jogging. You will to volunteer how much you can walk. If the team does accomplish the 100 mile challenge they will be rewarded with 5 bonus point. In addition to the 100 mile walk each team member must submit their favorite recipe to the group forum, along with the nutritional value. If someone submits your favorite you must find another recipe to submit.

*Feel free to do these exercises in sets if you are unable to do them all at one time. Please do your best as you are much stronger than you believe.





UPDATE: I forgot to post that last week I did ALL my daily challenges - Yay Me! I hit my water consumption goal of 64oz each day (that's the standard 8 glasses of water that is the recommended amount you should be drinking every day), however, I did not hit my calorie intake goal on Saturday, everyday BUT Saturday I did. This week my goal is to be 100% on everything! I pledged an extra 5 miles this week for my team's 100 mile challenge (that doesn't include the extra miles in the daily challenges). This will be difficult because my parents will be here Thursday evening through the weekend. I'm ready for the challenge though!!!

Planning is your best Weapon!

Okay, first off I have to start off by saying yesterday's challenge of 40 Up/Downs (Burpees as I call them) just about KILLED ME! I haven't done those in God knows how long and they were brutal! I did 4 sets of 10 and by #7/8 each round it was a full on struggle to finish. I am glad we had them as our challenge though. I am going to try to do them once a week to see my progress. See if they get any easier. Crazy I know, but they really are one of the best exercises you can do.

So onto the real thing I want to talk about. I am soo excited because I about 2 weeks ago or so, thanks to facebook, I realized a high school friend of mine lives in the same city I do! I haven't seen her since we graduated (over 8 years ago now) and I am going to see her tonight! We are meeting for dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy for dinner tonight and I KNOW that the meal will be a calorie buster. Since I am participating in the Team August Challenge this month and one of the requirements is you can NOT go over your calories I am going to have to do some planning today because I refuse to let my team down by busting my calorie count. I have never thought about calorie meal planning before until now, but it really makes sense. I know that I am going to eat a meal tonight that is not in my normal range, so I am going to HAVE to plan today to make it happen. I have a great breakfast and lunch planned that is low in calories, but very filling. I am working out during lunch and will also swim after work. All this put together should give me enough calories to be able to do what I want to do and still stay under my goal.


I will get online too later and figure out what I am going to eat so there are no surprises and I know without a doubt that I will be under my goal. Just like I have always said, I am not the type of person to stop eating what I want to, I have just learned that planning ahead, planning what you want to do really is one of my strongest weapons in my journey!

I can' wait for tonight to enjoy Maggiano's and a good old friend!!!

Bike Rides & Dog Walks

Yesterday I was worried about getting my calories in since I was off my normal routine. It turned out to be a great day and a nice calorie burn again. In fact yesterday was FABULOUS and a well needed day off!

Between some biking and walking the dog on the beach I got it all in plus some extra. After I got home from the beach (yes I know hard life - but when you live near the beach why not right?!) I logged onto MyFitnessPal and logged in my brunch and the margarita jug we took down to the beach and what we were going to have for dinner. We also biked down to the beach and back to I logged that too. I was over my calorie count so I told my boyfriend I HAD to go for a walk again after dinner or a bike ride or something. I wasn't going to leave my team hanging. He willingly agreed - he's such a great guy because again I know he wasn't thrilled about it, but because it was something I really wanted to do and something that meant a lot to me, he was all in.

After dinner we hopped onto bikes and rode down to his parents house that we typically would drive to. I would say it was an 8-10 minute bike ride so not too bad. We then got out their dog Mason and walked him down onto the beach 3 blocks down. We walked a while on the beach too, I even raced Mason - ya he definitely won by a long shot but I gave it my all for a while, it was a lot of fun. By the time we got back to his parent's house it had been at least 45-50 minutes of walking the dog. Walking on the beach, wow I felt my calves that's for sure. We then hopped back onto our bike and headed back to my boyfriend's house. All in all an hour and 15-20 minutes we were gone. I was really happy with that.

A friend asked me how'd you hit your calorie count if you didn't get your heart rate up? I got my heart rate up on the bikes and the walk, it wasn't crazy up being on a treadmill, but it was definitely up from normal resting heart rate. No it wasn't a "work-out" go put your tennis shoes on and sweat like crazy, but it definitely was calories off that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise and for that I am taking it. I don't get on a bike and walk down on the beach on a regular routine, heck I barely walk after dinner period. I can't count that as part of my normal everyday calorie burn that you "don't count" because you were going to burn it anyway. Yesterday was a great day and I got my calories and my Team August Challenge abs in too.

Today is 40 "Up& Down" - essentially burpees.... I hate burpees but Bring Them On!!!!!!!

Happy Thursday - the weekend is almost here. Yippie!