Monday Monday... So good to me

Good Evening!

Check in time.

I had a very productive weekend and Monday. Ive worked out three days in a row now and I am feeling pretty darn good. One of the things I have to work hard on is making my workouts less sporadic and so far that's happening.

I also did my weigh in this morning - 170! down two lbs. from last week! And with my workouts going so well that number will continue to fall.

One thing I wanted to mention is that if anyone needs me to give them workouts to do let me know. A few years ago JT found me an awesome 5 day workout on bodybuilding.com and it really works when you stay with it. The hardest things is just that, staying with it. :)

There is a lot going on over the next several weeks. For those of you who don't already know, JT and I are moving back to Texas. There a variety of reasons, mostly the weather, the fact that our house won't sell and finally the fact that JT is still waiting for his SUB license here in Ohio... as a certified and degreed educator, he is a bit frustrated about that to say the least, and honestly, Ohio just isn't what it used to be. Its just not home anymore. The hardest thing will be moving away from family again, but I really think its best for us and we can come up and visit more often (especially when we both have degrees and jobs! lol)

So, the rest of this week and half of next I will be hitting the gym very hard. But then next Wednesday we are getting the Uhaul and loading all of our crap back up and then Thursday we are heading back to Texas. It should take 2-3 days to get there and then we'll unload the uhaul and unpack everything. :) I fly back into Ohio the following Sunday. (I will be staying here while I finish school. I am just too close to switch school again... I only have 4 classes after this semester!) Hopefully Ill be able to get in a few good runs down there. I have to pack light enough to only have a carry-on so I figure ill take a pair of tennies and two pairs of sandals. (it is 75 there... :) : ): ) and of course some workout clothes. My summer clothes will already be there (they are packed in with our stuff.)

So that's the big news. I know it seems like we are changing our minds pretty quickly, but the window is such that we had to make a decision about what we were going to do. And I am happy about the decision - I miss our little house!

Im hoping to be down at least 5 more lbs. by the time we leave. I definitely think its doable.

Alright, I found a great article that I know a lot of you will like!

http://www.active.com/women/Articles/6-tips-to-get-moving-after-work.htm?cmp=17-1-277

Thanks for reading. How is everyone else doing health and eating wise? Anyone find any great recipes lately? Here is one a few of you (particularly Melanie and Carolyn) might find interesting -

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Quinoa-Garbanzo-and-Spinach-Salad-with-Smoked-Paprika-Dressing-359569

Thank you for reading! <3

So embarrassed!

Check in time! :)

Well, Ive had a semi-productive week. I still need to get into a better workout schedule, I only made it 3 times this week. Although I will say all three workouts were AWESOME. Monday I did back and chest and ran, Wednesday I did a 5-K and today I I ran, did bis and tris and ran some more. I need to make it more often though so I can do legs, delts and shoulders each week.

Speaking of running today... I had a pretty embarrassing incident at the gym. In fact, it was a VERY embarrassing incident. I was running on a special treadmill (see picture on this blog) that is supposed to help relieve the impact on your knees and ankles when you run. As you can see, it has little rivets. Well, I was running pretty fast, changing the song on my ipad and I stubbed my toe and went down. I grabbed the side handles and was bouncing on my knees on the treadmill... it hurt. I realized I either had to move my knees to the sides (impossible) or let go... so I let go and I went flying... as did my pants, clean down. So, I have raspberries all over my legs and knees and the streaming video shows me flying off the treadmill and my pants falling down. :) SOOO Embarrassing. Thankfully I still had a GREAT workout today and I didn't get hurt bad, my knees are just a bit sore.

I have few articles to share. In honor of my current pact with my MFD girls (No sweets for the month of March) I found this article about which desserts are best when you decide you want a dessert. :) So, ladies, in April - feel free to have some! :) :) http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/15-new-dessert-swaps-weight-loss

Another article I found talks about how to increase and build speed into workouts. I know all of us struggle with our training - I think the hardest thing is knowing WHAT to do when you workout. You can't just run, you can't just lift but doing too much or too little of either is bad too. I like this article because it breaks up the long monotonous runs.

http://www.active.com/running/Articles/4_Ways_to_Build_Speed_Workouts_Into_Your_Runs.htm?cmp=17-1-266

And today's final article is "Taming the Cookie Monster." It provides tips on curbing the urge to snack! :)

http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/Taming_the_cookie_monster__Win_the_battle_against_the_munchies.htm?cmp=17-1-241

I also got my eyebrows waxed today and started tanning. I know tanning is horrible for me, but it really makes me feel better in the winters because my skin hurts so bad from winter excema (the lotion and sun exposure helps a lot) and I love how I feel afterward (vitamin D I am assuming.) I only go for like 5-7 minutes a couple of times a week, So, I am hoping it won't hurt me or give me cancer. Plus, I am only going to go for a month or two at most.

I think thats about it for today. I hope the articles were helpful and everyone got a kick out of my embarrassing story. A good example to show you that you should NEVER be embarrassed at the gym because we all have blunders and silly things happen. Thank God I am safe and I'll just have to be more careful next time! :)

Thanks for reading!

Weight Loss Challenge

Good Evening,

Blog check in to start the week!

Firstly, I have crud in my throat/chest and its driving me INSANE! AHHH! :) But, life is good.

Something positive - I signed up for a weight-loss challenge at snap fitness with my momma and aunt for the next two months. (I was able to just purchase 2 months of gym time, rather than having to sign up long term). The people who lose the most weight (group wise)can win several different prizes. I figure it will be motivating for me, but also for my mom and aunt. (they are going to give us a 4th random teammate.) The nice thing is that Snap is a 24 hour gym! I love that. Plus I still have a Y membership so I can go use their pool when I want. (and their gym of course and take their classes.) So I am happy about that. And excited and motivated! I weighed in at 172. I have about 30 lbs. to lose and hope to lose at least 15-20 by the end of the 8 weeks. (30 would be awesome though! lol).

Thank you to everyone who commented about supplements. I am trying to figure out what I "need" and Melanie today on FB wrote about getting some sort of test where they tell you what things you may be deficient in and need to supplement. Anyone know where you get those? I'd def. be interested in doing one!

Ok - for my gadget loving friends, here is an article you may find interesting:

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/545/the-best-fitness-gear-and-gadgets/

Tomorrow starts the beginning of this snap-fitness challenge. My official weigh ins will be Mondays for the next 8 weeks. My official starting weight is 172 at the gym. I also plan to weigh in here on my mom's scale because I think there is quite a difference. So I'll have two weigh in weights each week. GS for Gym Scale and HS for Home Scale.

My plan is to eat more cleanly. I don't want to eat processed crap (as I was trying to get away from before) but, it is going to be VERY difficult to do here. (I do not have my own kitchen etc...) But, I will make it work and do my best.

Thank you for reading! <3

In a Rut

Hello Everyone

This is a quick check in to let you all know I am still trying to get back into my workouts! I found a great article to share too for those of you who have to eat breakfast on the go!

Before that though, I have something to tell everyone. Most of you aren't from where I am from so you probably haven't heard the news, but two people were murdered in our small town of 10,000. One of those people was someone that I grew up with since toddlerhood. She and her mom and sister lived across the hall from me and we spent so many fun hours of our childhood together. We also went to school together and graduated together and this just sucks. :( Im doing ok but its just been such a bummer and the whole town is in a tizzy. ugh.

Sorry to be a bummer - but the reason I have to talk about it is because it just really affects ones well being when crappy things happen. I can't motivate myself or focus right now and its making me want to eat! What do you do when you feel this way? Anyone have any suggestions?

On a positive note I have a new workout buddy (shoutout to Kristy V) and we are meeting at the Y in the morning. So I am very excited!

Im also still wondering what types of vitamins everyone takes.

Ok - here is the article I said I'd share! :) Hope you enjoy it. And, any feedback would be greatly appreciated! <3

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/18/fast.food.breakfast.health/index.html?iref=NS1

Feeling great - time to start again

A year ago last January I started this blog! Its been pretty spotty over the past year - but it is time again to start. I feel compelled to write.

Firstly, something I have to share. Ive been struggling greatly with anxiety over the past couple of months. Long story short, it has been very difficult - but things are finally turning around and I am finally feeling like myself again! :)
Part of feeling like myself again is doing anything and everything I possibly can to nurture my mind and body. Part of anxiety is constant worry which causes panic - that in turn causes me to feel awful (chest pains, chest and throat tightening, headaches, body aches, upset stomach... the list goes on) which ultimately makes me feel exhausted all of the time. I have been doing breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques which really seem to be helping though and I would like to start doing yoga and deep meditation. They are all ways to bring ones mind and body peace and ease.

In addition to the yoga and mediation I have to get into a regimented gym routine. It just makes me feel good. Like I've accomplished something and it helps me stay healthy (plus... hopefully it will help me get skinny! and in shape!!)

Today while in my human biology class I made a list of things I wanted to work on and research and learn about - basically goals :)

Nutritional needs based on body chemistry (my dear friend Carolyn (love you!) wrote today about her disdain for milk and meat - I don't agree with her - but can't disagree until I do research!) :) :)

I'd also like to learn more about the types of food that burn fat naturally. Also, I'd like to learn about what specific nutritional needs we have to work at our most optimal level (vitamins as well as food.)

I would like to learn about yoga and meditation!

I want to do more research about the best types of workouts to build more muscle (reminder! for every pound of muscle you add you burn more calories! read this! http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseworkouts/f/muscle.htm)

I would also like to do more research about sports physiology.

I am ready to start working toward my trainer license!

SO yes, I am really looking forward to blogging again. I hope you again get some tips and inspiration from me and will contribute as well. <3

Thanks for reading! I'll be writing more!!!

still feeling pretty good

Hello all,

Just a quick check in to say im still feeling good and working hard. I took a few days off and haven't been eating great, but I have been keeping myself in check and making sure not to overeat out of bordum.(not sure how you spell that.)

I can't wait until biggest loser starts again, that is ALWAYS a HUGE motivation for me. Being in the Bahamas was great for me though because I got a lot of compliments from my friends who haven't seen me in a while AND i felt comfortable wearing my bathing suit in front of people. :) If ever you feel like you've been working hard and no one notices, send pictures to old friends, they can ALWAYS see a difference! <3

Thanks for reading! <3

Been working hard!

Hello all!

Thank you for remaining patient! I am finally back and working hard! For the past about month I've been working hard toward my weight loss goal! I am SUPER motivated and have stayed on track pretty well so I figured I can finally write and make promises without breaking them.

JT and I joined a local gym here called "anytime" fitness. Don't ask me how it happened, but we managed to go on a day where there were no sign up fees and it 10 dollars off the regular price for the contract. It was meant to be I'd say. :)

Although I haven't lost a lot of weight yet, my muscle tone is already starting and Im feeling GREAT!

The plan is to get as much down as I can before the bahamas and then continue that trend upon my return home. Then, to hit my weightloss/body fat loss goal by the winter. Id like to be where I want by then so wherever we end up going I can begin my personal trainer license while I figure out where I am going to go to school to finish my teaching degree.

I will continue this blog from now on and work on finding good, information links. Thank you for reading and please feel free to add some information and comments! <3