CHALLENGE CHECK IN

how are you doing??

getting your water?

no snacking??

I'm sucking!

not as bad as usual, but still suckin lol

I am definately thinking about not snacking. I am making sure I am really hungry before I reach for the treat.. which has been.. oranges, grapes, celery with almond butter mmm etc..

so not too horrible.. but  not perfect.

I don't expect myself to be perfect. just to try.

just to be healthier.


it's been a busy week.. a friend passed, kids have games, dr appts.. we're getting closer to our home buying marathon of paper signing.. picking out blinds.. fencing.. on and on!!

pilates was tough last night.. so tough. but so worth it!
 I am up to a minute and a half on plank time! woohoo!!

keep going strong and enjoy your week!

Goals

If anyone would have told me even a few years ago I would have ran a half marathon, I would have told them they were crazy!
whacked out, nut jobbed, insanely insane, nuts!
but I did it.

I ran a 5k.
then another
and another.. and on and on..
then a 10k
go me!

then.. I wanted MORE
I really did.
I had to prove to myself I could do more.
I had to prove to everyone telling me I can't, that I CAN!
and I did!
I ran a half marathon..

what's next?
more half's
getting faster
and being able to complete one without thinking I'm going to die. or puke. either one

but
baby steps
first
I have to get back on my "healthy eating" plan
no(low) carbs
no junk
lots of water
more water
and did I mention water?

my brilliant mind thought, earlier, while I was in the bathroom. I think great there.

I need to cut back on the diet soda.
BIG TIME!
now!
I know it's not good for me.
I'm addicted.
my goal for this week?
cut back on the soda.
I will ALLOW myself one per day. and only if it's a good fountain drink. mmm those are my favs.
yep. I did not say NO soda.. cut me some slack people.
I'm an addict.
but I will cut back.
baby steps here.

I will also try a new recipe at least once a week. and post it. here. with pictures. cuz I'm awesome like that.

Oh yeah! I am also going to try more strength training. such as crossfit, p90X or insanity. not sure which yet.. I tried crossfit on my own, but without paying a few hundred dollars to go to the gym here, I'm not sure I'm comfortable to keep trying the exercises..
so. a buddy is doing insanity and he has had great results. I think I'll research that one.
either way. I'll get toned and strong.

aaand... I need to update my blog to make it look cooler. yanno. to match me? someday. when I don't have a million things to do at any given time. I'll do that. yeah.


I just wanted to share some progress pics.. the first is from 2007ish I'm on the very right.. with my sister and nieces just after my mama passed.

taa-daa!
I've still got thirtyish pounds to go.. but I'm close!


I keep thinking of fantabulous things to share!
we are going to (as a whoooole family) do a deep clean of our house tomorrow. scrubbing walls and floors, cleaning out closets..etc.. I'm excited now, but come tomorrow morning, eeek! lol
then.. I plan on crafting and get this~~~ making a recipe box! I am going to find all the yummyness I've found in books from the library, pinterest and blogland.
 I know I won't complete this soon, but I will start it!
I plan on dividing it somehow.. paleo, vegetarian, low cal, not low cal.. etc.. whew! that's gonna be a buttload of work. maybe it's not so exciting after all?
Oh yeah.. and get my fill of Olympic games in! woot woot! go USA!
naaah. It's gonna rock!

jogging with the fam

we woke up early Saturday to go for a bike ride, longboard ride and run.. runnin for me :)
bikes for the hubs n youngest and longboard for the teenager

there is a trail along the freeway here that is 14 miles long from start to end.. we've never been on it.
till now!

we started about a fourth of the way in.. mile 3 I think..

 on our way

 the trail

 going into the tunnel.. dun dun dun

 spooky no?

 me.. getting ready to brave the tunnel lol (like how I rigged the lil backpack holding my water and ipod? yep I'm creative)
it was short ha! but the shade was nice :)

muh goofy teenager on our run Sunday

wearin my "fanny pack" water bottle holder lol

I am almost ready for the half on Saturday.

I decided I am going to eat some carbs this week. bump up my protien and lots of water!! I can't believe how thirsty I got on our two hour run Saturday morning..

what I was doing this weekend

I made some Paleo chocolates :)

yup. they're skulls.

I used cocoa, coconut oil, coconut and vanilla.. easy and yummy!

I got my greenman tatt finished. doesn't he look awesome?

it's on the inside of my upper arm..

Friday.. I decided to try a crossfit workout.

wheweeey!

it rocked,  but I am a sore mama still!

I did three sets of each exercise.. I didn't count, I just did as many as I could each time..maybe that was my mistake..

I did box jumps (you squat then jump up on a "box" which I used something the gym had, squats with dumbbells, some wall balls (you throw a medicine ball over your head at the wall then squat when you catch it) some dead lifts, tons of crunches, sit ups with medicine ball throws, bicycle crunches..

whew! I made it through all that.. then managed to run four miles.. I thought I was going to fall off the treadmill lol

so.. I soaked my legs in super hot water with epsom salt.. helped a lil.. not much.. so I rode the bike for 40 minutes to try to loosen up my aching muscles.. then ellipticalled a lil..

still sooooo sore! you should see me trying to get in and out of my car! ha!

but I am not going to give up. nope. I will just work upper body until I can stand to move my lower body voluntarily lol

oh yeah! I forgot.. I made some "snack mix"

coconut, almonds, flax seeds, squash seeds, cocoa and coconut oil. mmmm

Those damn cute jeans

A week or so ago, my Mother in Law ( totes adore her)
gave me a pair of jeans that she had bought for my niece. She said they didn't fit her and rather than take them back, she would love me to have them.
First, these jeans are adorable!
hip. huggers.
skinny. jeans.
eeeek!

but dammit, they are cute!

Size 11

which is, get this,
HALF the size I used to wear!
yup.
HALF!

I can squeeeeze into them. almost button them up.
ALMOST!

so I made a goal for myself.
no way am I giving these back. or giving them to my teenager.
they're all mine baby!

When my birthday comes, March 7th.
I WILL fit into these jeans!
no negotiations.

Every ounce of willpower and strenght I have will be summoned and used for the next 31 days.
Wednesday March 7th, I will put them on and take a pic.
That is how determined I am.

Zumba, yoga, running and everything I can get my body to do.. HERE I COME!

not to mention tracking, eating only nutritious and healthy food that is going to fuel my body..

now that I have it in writing.. let's do this!

anyone else have something they would like to make a goal and join me?

comment or email me!
it will rock!

tracking for Jan 04

Yesterday wasn't a great "food choice" day..
we went to lunch for my boss's b-day.. I tried something new. it wasn't worth it!
Lesson learned..

I did get to go to the Yoga/Tai-chi class finally!! it was great.. lots of energy moving and shakra healing..
I did Zumba too. I totes love Patti (the instructor) she is sexy and so fun!

here's my tracking..
not so good, I know.


PointsPlus® Tracker entries


Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Morning
1  serving(s) grape nuts	5
1/3 cup(s) low-fat milk	1
Subtotal	6
Midday
1  item(s) grilled cheese sandwich	14
1  cup(s) mixed greens	0
1  Tbsp Ranch Dressing	2
Subtotal	16
Evening
1/2 item(s) Burritos Soft Veggie Burrito	7
Subtotal	7
Anytime
1  small grapefruit(s)	0
Subtotal	0
Food PointsPlus values total used	29
Food PointsPlus values remaining	0
Activity
60 min aerobics, vigorous effort	11
60 min yoga	3
Activity PointsPlus values earned	14
Check off these important items daily:
Liquids          Milk & Milk Products     Fruit & vegetables          Multivitamin/Mineral   Healthy Oil     Activity

I'm a zombie runner!

I'm officially an Undead Runner!
The run is tomorrow..
we get to dress like zombies!

I'll be back with pics soon!

little black skirt challenge check in

well. I know.
I've been mia this week. er. last week.
but I've been BUSY man!

I've been logging my miles..33.15 miles to be exact.. mostly running..but not too shabby eh?

I lost three of the five pounds I gained the week before.. yay!

so now.. only 4.2 to go to get my 30# loss.. then another 20#'s and I will be a lifetime member of weight watchers.. I'm so close!
not really.. but definately closer than I was when I started..

so.. I made my goal this week to follow my weight watchers plan exactly. To get all my protein and "right" carbs in for Body for life..

me and the hubs made a compromise..
I will stay home with him one night a week. No scrapbooking, no writing, no working out. for one night.
and he will go to the gym with me one day a week..

what a deal huh?
I'd love for him to see how great it feels to get your body going and how much energy he can have.. and just feel better!

upper body workout

here's my upper body workout I did yesterday..
seriously.. I am rocking this!
I was a bit sore almost immediately after.. which is a good sign, no?

dumbbell incline press 12x15 10x15 8x20 6x20 12x15
flyes 12x15
Lat pulldowns 12x50 10x60 8x70 6x80 12x60
cable rows 12x70
Front raises 12x10 10x15 8x15 6x20 12x10 ( I am still so weak here.. need to work on it)
lateral raises 12x15
cable curls 12x50 10x60 8x70 6x70 12x50
concentration curls 12x15
lying tricep presses 12x10 10x10 8x15 6x15 12x15
bench dips 12

I am totally loving the body for life challenge, myfitnesspal (which tracks everything I eat) and my bloggies.. it is keeping me accountable.
I just hope I can maintain it for a couple more months.. lots of work. but my new hard body will be worth it, right?

Week one down.. 11 to go!

good progress so far..
I think I did pretty well on the Body for life plan
I lost 3.6 pounds..
finally.. a loss!
woot!

I hope to lose one or two this week..not planning on a huge loss.. we'll see what happens.

I will try to post my workouts and meal plans as soon as I can..
I have my workouts all written out on index cards to take to the gym.. easy peasy..

that way I don't have to guess or try to remember what I did or need to do..

but.. a loss is a loss.. I'll take it!

this week is going to be a lil harder..
trying to get all my veggies in..
all the protein..
it's a challenge.
but I am so going to do it!
I want to win!!!!

Day one

and
it begins

day one
of
Body for Life

last night I had my super supportive hubster take "before" pics

and the good man that he is
didn't say a word
not one
word
about my side belly
or my double chins
or my donut rolls
or
anything for that matter..

he even asked that I take
"before" pics of him

"before" what? I have no clue..
he isn't a "dieter"
he's a couch sitter..
whatevs..

he's happy with his sports watching while I'm sweatin at the gym..
we make it work.

so..
I got my pics..
I got some good foods..

here's my plan for today..

Protein shake w/ fruit
orange

peach
slice of 45 cal whole wheat bread w/ nutella! mmmm I can't wait to try this stuff..

cottage cheese/ grapes


plum
protein bar

prolly a big salad for dinner..

going to start the workout plan today too..
I'm not sure how I'm going to do this since I already workout lots..
I'm not thinking of changing too much.. just focus more on what the plan says needs to be done.. I'll finally have a schedule :)

Day 1

Upper Body Training

Chest/Shoulders/Triceps/Back/Biceps

Day 1

Upper Body Training

Chest/Shoulders/Triceps/Back/Biceps

upper body is today.. which rocks.. since I did the evil leg machines at the gym Friday.. and still sore in hidden special places today..

go me!

as for the slimmer this summer challenge.. I'm still here.. still working!
woot!

Body for life

mkay kids.
time for another "thing for me to try"

I seem to flop with these things. ever notice?
no?
cool..

I was told to try this by a coworker.. he lifts weights.. pretty well from what I can see..
so..
I am

does that make me a sucker?
sure.

do I care?
nope..

*smile*


so.. the cheapskate that I am..
ran to the library..
ok.. drove in my car..

and grabbed these lil goodies..

sorry bout the crappy pics..

but I am going to start next Monday.
so far I see a challenge making it for my tree hugger vegetarianism Weight Watcher's self..
but the stories and pictures make me soooo want to make it work!

what's 12 weeks?
I am not going to lose anything.. cept maybe some flub.

I guess I will have to start going to the tanning bed.. since most of the "after" pics are all tanned muscled up chicks.. so hot!

somethin pretty to keep me motivated?

I am very easily amused.
I got kinda tired of the plain-o ww's paper trackers..
so I looked around my lil craft desk
and found this

a sparkly new Moon Goddess journal ready for me to track in!
see my cute lil skully pencil I use? Makes me smile :)

let's see what happens now.
after all..
I gained two frekin pounds last week.

I don't know what to do about that.
other than cry
and get mad
and be upset
at myself

I know that I couldn't exercise as well as usual, due to my leg pain..
but seriously?

ugh!
now I have 4.8 to go to get my damn 25 pound charm!
for fucks sakes!

anyway..
I'm over it
moving on..
being better this week is all I can do

I went to yoga Sunday.. loved it!
she cranks up the heat to at least 85 and away we go!
down dogs, triangles, cobras, planks.. etc.. it is such a great workout and soul clearing experience.. I wish I could do it every day!

so.. I may be only a little bit lighter.. but it's better than the alternative.. right?

What a bummer and a month with no fast food?

 the hubs gave me his ipod touch.. I handed mine down to my teenager..and so on..
but I had the awesome Nike+ app.. so I could use the pedometer, the workout tracker thinkabajig.. and sync it on my puter..
it was awesome!

but the new Ipod touch.. doesn't have it!
well.. it does.. but I have to buy

this..

which is around $20
I don't really mind.. but I really have to have one for the app to even start..
I wanted to go make a few playlists for running, walking, ellipticalling, stairmastering.. etc..
but it wont let me do that.. ugh!

boo!

 anyone know where I can get a Nike + sensor for cheap.. free is better!

Me n the hunkaman hubs decided we would go a whole month with no fast food. none.
this may sound easy for most people. but we have all kinds of excuses for eating out.
I get busy and don't always have time to cook dinner.
I haven't had time to get to the grocery store for lunches..
I'm lazy..
etc..

 after a meltdown from the youngest daughter for not buying her mcd's.. seriously.. there were tears and lots of crying..
yeah.. over food..
fast food.
crap.

we decided to be the parents.
and no fast food
for a month.

it's gonna be hard.. but worth it
to show my kids
they can be healthy
and eat yummy food at home
and I am going to be challenged to cook.
every day
ugh!

wish us luck

we'll need it!

oh..one more thing..
would it be weird to ask a fellow (yes a total stranger) gym goer.. who looks totes like she knows what she's doing.. (I'm talking bodybuilding championship trophies here) to help me out some?
think she'd freak?

I did pretty good..

it was a loooong holiday weekend.
I took two days off.. then we got Monday off.. so I had a total of five days off!!
do you think I got anything done that I wanted to?
nope..
I got a few things checked off my list..
but nothing big.
eh well.
I did get a workout in every day though.. and a couple trips to the park to walk the doggies..


I checked in at ww's.. I am up .6 again.. but I suppose thats not too horrible considering we had a parade the night before.. and I drank a ton of diet soda. I think it made me a lil bloated..

I took the girls to a lil carnival after working out.. I had some nachos and another diet soda.. mmmmmm (wait.. no.. they were icky) lol.. that's what I have to tell myself.. food is icky.. right?

I did discover a great way to not eat goodies at a party..
invite six or seven teenagers and a couple of pre-teens..
turn on guitar hero
put food on table.
walk away..
make sure you're arms are still attached. lol

I managed a couple carrots and maybe one or two crackers with homemade guac and salsa..
great way to avoid the extra calories! :)



I made some awesome potato salad for lunch yesterday..
I used three smallish potatoes leftover from a bbq the night before
added some dijon mustard
salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic salt

I chopped up some celery, cilantro, a pickle and some onion (please forgive my crappy phone pics..)

added some light mayo

 and some fresh homegrown dill mmmmm

 taa-daa yummy potato salad

I got three servings.. which equal about 7 P+ per serving.. soooo worth it to me :)

my plan for today

a protein smoothie.. mmmmm these are soooo yummy..
a scoop of protein powder
some frozen fruit
ice and water..
yummmmyyy!! 2P+
a grapefruit 0P+

a ww's frozen dinner.. baked ziti 5P+
a peach 0P+

a granola bar pre-gym 5P+

dinner? probably a salad or some whole grain pasta salad.. ooh that sounds good.. add some veggies.. yumo!

I am going to continue to do well this week.. because I finally decided.. I am worth it!
I watched Oprah yesterday.. at the gym..
and it was an episode where she had a bunch of people she's inspired and helped to lose weight.
I was finally able to click in my head.. that all these people can lose soooo much weight.. and they finally decided they are worth it.. so why aren't I? why can't I do it?
seriously?
I think that is what has been holding me back..
yes..I've lost 50 pounds.
but I still have at least 30 to go.. to be completely happy..
and I know I can't get hung up on the number. but it is a number to measure by..
so.. I think by asking myself, why can't I? I finallly can find an answer..for myself.
instead of just thinking.. I can do it..
because that isn't working as of now..
I have to challenge myself.. why not?
I hope this makes sense.
thanks Oprah!

today's plan

I am a wee bit sore from my 5k last night.. but I totally rocked it!
the hubs and the kidlets came to support me..and that meant everything!
I finished first.. can you believe it?
I know it wasn't a race, but it was the best feeling evah to be first at something!
I jogged most of the time.. and slowed to catch my breath a few times.. but didn't stop.. once!

I finished in 36 minutes.. seriously!

so.. today's plan..

a bowl of the new Fiber one 80 calorie cereal.. which is sooooo yummy btw.. 4 p+ with milk
a lean cuisine pizza.. the one with tomatoes.. soooo good.. 8p+
some celery with ff cream cheese 2p+
and something nummy for dinner..maybe grill some veggies
then hit the gym tonight.. I missed the stairmaster last night.. due to me forgetting that I signed up for a 5k.. but it was good.

Have a great day!

ugh

first.
I skipped my Weight Watcher's weigh in on Saturday.
I just needed to sleep.
which I did
Until 10 am!
yeah..

but according to my scale at home I am down a pound.
woop!

I have been struggling with motivation this last couple weeks.
I just haven't had it in me to track or even stay on plan.
I've craved crap
junk
carbs
sugar
etc..

but this week
I am putting my foot down
I've come too far to waste all this hard work to gain it all back
I've lost 52 pounds so far
I realized yesterday.. and told the hubs..
I haven't weighed this weight since I was preggers with our 10 year old.
I seriously almost started crying people.
I remember.. I was all set to join the Army in 2000..March I believe.
I was packed and papers signed.
the morning I was supposed to leave, they did one last weigh in (I was border line then) and they said I was about a pound over.
I was devistated.
We(my recruiter and I) tried desperately for three days (since they gave me a second chance) to lose that one pound.
never came off..
and voila.. I found out I was pregnant.
so.. I suppose it all works out for a reason or another.

but..
I weighed what I do now.
it feels good!
I would love to lose another 30 pounds.
I AM going to lose another 30 pounds!

now..
I have to share a recipe I played with last night.
I wanted spaghetti
but also wanted something cheesy

so I made this..

started with penne

oh yeah.. please forgive my crappy pics. My phone has a mind of it's own.. I even used the flash.. go figure..

then added some fresh basil from my window herb garden
and some chopped cheese

then added some spaghetti sauce and cottage cheese.. some seasonings (italian seasoning, salt, pepper)

and the finished product

mmmm all warm n gooey from the oven..
it tasted like lasagna a little..
I got nine servings from this batch and figure it to be 4 points plus.. seriously.. and that was using the recipe builder.. nice huh?

I wish my camera would work better.. I need to learn how to use it I guess..

so.. this week for my slimmer this summer week 6 challenge

I am going to re-boot my mind.
I am determined to do it!

an update on the strength training..
can you say SORE? holy cow!
I am glad for the weekend to recover..
my legs are so painfully sore..
but now I know I have muscles to burn!!

I did get my running in though.. I can do two and a half miles now.. woohoo!! I am going to try for three by the end of the week. that is jogging the whole time..and it's hard! and sweaty!

so.. on to a new week.