Jumping on the Wagon

The Nike Plus wagon that is! I bought one right around this time last year. I used it 3 times... loved it... and then the battery on the sensor died. Totally annoying, I know. I kept meaning to get a new sensor, but never got around to it.

Fast forward a FULL YEAR. I finally got a new one!!! I've used it 3 times since I've had it and am again totally hooked. I missed Boot Camp last night (long story involving Wallmart and me being stupid) but I still went to the gym. And I RAN for 26 minutes straight. Thats right... I RAN for 26 minutes straight.

Let's take a moment to read what I wrote on Jan 18, 2008:

Oh! And in other big gym news I ran for TWO MINUTES straight last night. I realize it doesn't sound like much, but considering when I started on Jan 7 I could barely run for 30 seconds at a time I was so pumped that I pushed through the one minute mark, and the 1.5 minute mark and went for 2 minutes! I'm will be a runner someday :)

I was so excited about running for 2 minutes. Just TWO! And one year later I'm doing 26. Maybe does this mean by next year this time I'll be doing 45 minutes?! Let's hope so! I'm so close to running a 5k nonstop. My goal is to do it by the end of Feb.

Anyway -- here's my run via Nike Plus (click to make larger)!

Stats:
2.79 miles
31 min 42 seconds
11 min 19 sec mile (avg)
374 cals burned

The first 5 minutes of the workout were a walking warm up. I did do another 5 minutes of walking to cool down but stopped my workout before that :)

Ok... menu for today!

Breakfast:
2 low fat waffles w/ strawberries and blueberries - 3

Snack:
vitamuffin w/ pb - 3

Lunch:
1 cup veggie soup - 0
sandwich thin w/ laughing cow light - 2
apple - 1

Snack:
soft pretzel - 3
applesauce plus fiber - 0

Snack before boot camp:
banana w/ pb - 3

Dinner:
2 eggs - 4
turkey sausage - 2
broc - 0
toasted sandwich thin - 1

Snack:
pudding w/ berries! - 2

What's the worst day of the week?

One of my friends always says that she thinks Tuesday is the worst day of the week. Monday you're still coming down from the high of the weekend, and by Wednesday the weekend is approaching... but on Tuesday it's just blah.

I secretly have to agree with her today. However! There is good TV on tonight. And no, I'm not talking about American Idol. I'm talking about The Biggest Loser... and 90210! I'm so hopelessly into that show. My roommate makes fun of me... but what do you expect out of a girl who watches The Hills and now The City? I fear I was the only person who was actually upset that Lipstick Jungle got canceled. But I digress. All I'm saying is that there is something fun and excited about Tuesday.

And if that wasn't exciting enough there's always Boot Camp. Last nights work out was hard. It was at TBs (Trainer Boy) house again. And there is a BIG hill right near his house. As in he lives at the bottom of it. Last night we were lucky enough to have our 'lap' be running up the hill and back. FREAK! I've never liked hills on a bike and can now add that I don't like hills on foot either. Hopefully we'll get to run in the other direction tonight, but I'm thinking not.

As for my eats I was good yesterday -- ate 26 out of 23 points. Not too shabby! I've got the rest of my food all planned out for today and am determined to stick to it. Here's the menu so far (if you want the pictures go here).

Bfast:
Starbucks tall nonfat one pump vanilla steamer (heaven on a cold morning!) - 3
2 eggo waffles - 2

Midmorning snack:
banana nut vitamuffin w/ a smear of pb - 2
2 dark kisses - 1

Lunch:
salad from the grocery store salad bar (baby spinach, carrots, hard boiled egg whites, a few craisins, edemame) - 3
mini pizza on arnold sandwich thin (these are amazing) - 3
big juicy apple - 1

Afternoon snack:
motts plus fiber - 0
super pretzel w/ spicy brown mustard - 3

Snack before boot camp:
toasted sandwich thin w/ laughing cow light cheese - 2

Dinner:
Lean Cuisine meatloaf and whipped poatoes (I'm sort of scared of this one...) - 5
I'm addining in some sauteed peps, onions and tomatoes for veggies - 0

Snack:
choco vitamuffin w/ strabs and ff whipped cream - 2

Total: 27 out of 23
Flex Used: 4
APs Earned: 3 at boot camp

Posting Fool

Don't you love how I post like 12 times a day when I'm being all good and eating well and all that other crap? But then the entire month of December I posted 9 times total? Whatever we all do it :)

I ended up eating 29 points today... so I used 6 flex points. But it's ok because I still have 24 left for the week since I didn't use many a all over the weekend. Woo! Also had day one of boot camp. I literally didn't do anything over the break. Unless you count taking Maddie for walks, which I don't. If I don't work up a good sweat and can do it without putting a sports bra on, it just doesn't count! I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be one of those days where I have to use the handicapped bathroom... because I won't be able to sit on the toilet without holding onto something to help ease me down! Oh the joys of working out. We did all kinds of crazy quad stuff and a fair amount of running. And for a split second I thought I might throw up about halfway through but somehow worked through that. But it's amazing how much energy I had when I got home though. From eating well (aka not sugar for breakfast, lunch and dinner) and also working out you would have thought I had a double shot of espresso! I was bouncing all over the house.

Hopefully the energy stays!

And now I'm going to bed. There's already a little brown dog sleeping on top of me practically. Why she thinks she's a lap dog I have no idea :D

Lunch Break Woes

I only get a half an hour for lunch. Which isn't much time. Generally I'll skip my 'break' 2 days out of the week so I can have an hour break 2 other days during the week.

But here's my problem. I pack my lunch and like to eat at my desk. Breaks up the day you know? So on my actual lunch break what do I do? It's rainy today so I can't go for a walk. And I don't want to BUY lunch (bad for the wallet and hips), nor do I want to go shopping. I don't really have any errands to run. And so here I sit... pondering what to do with my half hour break. I'll most likely just skip it today... but if anyone has any suggestions for cheap things to do on an hour or half hour lunch break PLEASE let me know!

In other news I'm doing well with temptations at work. I did give in and had a hershey's kiss, but that's ok. I'll count it and I just had ONE. I got back from a staff meeting and there was a big bag of chocolate TURTLES sitting on my desk! I have no idea who put them there but you bet your ass I picked the bag up right away and took it to the kitchn... which is far away from me.

Menu for today looks something like this...

Breakfast:
Homemade waffle w/ 1/2 banana and pb - 4

Snack:
Motts plus - 0
a few cherries - 0.5
kiss! - 1

Lunch:
home made chicken noodle soup - 2
1/2 slice double fiber bread w/ 1 hard boiled egg and mayo - 2.5
apple - 1

Snacks:
WW yogurt - 1
apple cinnamon rice cakes - 1
ONE piece of chocolate - 1

Snack before BOOT CAMP (yikes!):
kashi crackers w/ cheese - 3

Dinner:
LC lasagne with meat sauce - 6
cucumber spears - 0
light english muffin - 1

Snack:
cup of tea - 0
1 pb ball - 2

APs: 3 (boot camp)
Total points: 26 -1 (AP - I dont' like to use them all) = 25... 2 Flex used

Day Two

So far so good! It's 7.23 and I still have 3 points left. What is going on? Why does this seem - dare I say it - somewhat easy? I mean I never have 3 points left after dinner. I only get 23 points a day people!

Granted I was going light today because I was supposed to go out tonight (but the stupid boy got sick and canceled on me grrrr) but instead of going crazy I still had a somewhat well balanced meal! Menu for today looks like this:

Bfast:
High Fiber Quaker Oats (Maple and Brown Sugar) - 3
Tea w/ honey - 1

Snack:
Homemade trail mix - 3

Lunch:
Lean Cuisine Stuffed Rigatoni (love this one!) - 4.5
2 clementines - 0.5
Motts Plus Applesauce - 0

Snack:
ONE piece of chocolate (I JUST HAD ONE!) - 1

Dinner (very random):
chicken cake - 2
Light Flat Out wrap w/ 2 slices light cheese toasted - 3
fried egg - 2

Snack (since I still have 3 points):
1 pb ball - 2
light hot chocolate w/ ff whipped cream - 1

Also - random victory. I was unpacking my lunch bag (the stuff I didn't eat) when I got home from work and there was a 1 point WW choc pb bar in there. I mindlessly opened it and almost took a bite when I realized a) I wasnt hungry and b) I really didn't want it! So I just threw it out! I know, amazing.

Downer

I have a feeling this post may be a bit of a downer. I'm just in that kind of mood. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I've eaten nothing but sugar and fried crap for the past week? Yes... I do believe that would have a negative affect on my mood :)

Backing up Cancun was awesome! Pictures here. It was cloudy and windy the last two days (I was only there 4) but we still had fun. Hit up the spa and I managed to get the SMALLEST amount of color. Hey, it's better than nothing, right?

But I got home and have been in a funk ever since. I can't get my eating under control. Why I think it's ok to eat french fries and candy cane joe joes until I feel sick I'm just not quite sure. Everyday I wake up and say ok -- today I'm going to get back on track. And then fail somehow. I gained SIX pounds while gone... and I don't seem to be putting an end to the gaining there. Argh. I was so close to the 160s and now I'm just far away. Someone come to Charlotte and just SLAP some sense into me. For real. I need it!

I also had a crappy night at boot camp. I guess eating like crap had me feeling like crap (I know, who would have thunk it?) and then I was again the slowest one there. I had the lowest weight possible for the exercises and was STILL the slowest. Just after a while it can get demoralizing... always being the weakest link. Always being just a few steps behind everyone else (and well lets be honest, sometimes more than a few steps behind). Generally I'm ok with it. But tonight for some reason I literally was on the verge of tears (ok maybe one or two actually came out). I was just done and annoyed and frustrated. I don't want to ALWAYS be the slow one. Just once...I would like to not be last. I guess the only way that's going to happen is to keep going... keep working out.. keep at it.

I'm trying to take all of the negative stuff from today and turn it into a positive for tomorrow. We're doing a bit of a pot luck at work for Thanksgiving, but I should be able to do ok. If I could just stay to like 26 points I'd feel good. Then Sat is a new week, a new start. Screw Thanksgiving.. I'm not even thinking about that food yet. I need to get through Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues... before I'm even on my WAY to Thanksgiving food. No reason to throw all of those days away because there will be turkey on pie on Thursday, right?

I CANNOT keep going like I'm going. If I do I'll be right back to 196 by the new year. Negating ALL the hard work I put in this year.

So here's to tomorrow being a better day!

Two Days in a Row???

I heart TFA (aka boot camp). Quad explosion 1 was tonight's workout. And 5 minutes into it my quads were screaming! Squats with med balls, core work, crazy lunges with a twist, some foot work on the ladder... all sorts of good stuff. I'm so excited about session 2! I'm still slow (ok the slowest) but I don't even care anymore. It's not about being the best... its doing MY best. So there. How was that for corny ha!

I also was totally carb free after 5pm tonight! I made a little taco thingy for dinner. Just ground beef, taco seasoning, sauteed peppers and onions, then topped with tomato (from the garden!), some RF cheese and light sour cream. Delish and filling. I had frozen blueberries with a splash of milk for 'dessert' since I'm not allowd to have sweets. TBs GF recomended it and at first I wasnt feeling it but by the end I was diggin it. AND I didn't feel guilty. Wooo!

My week is about to get crazy ... and fast! Tomorrow night I have boot camp, then home to walk the pup, then dinner. By the time all of that is over it's 8pm. Then I have to pack (FOR CANCUN, I know woe is me). Wednesday night I'm going to see So You Think You Can Dance on tour. I know. I can't believe I'm going either. And I'm going WITH MY BOSS! She loves the show too so we bought tickets. Hysterical. It should be a fun night. And Thursday night I'm going out with the boy. It's a whole long story about why I'm not sure he's into me (and might have to do with the fact that until now I've only dated girls... yeah that was fun to tell him haha) but I sucked it up and texted him to see ifhe wanted to hang out and I got a "sounds good" response so I'll take it. We shall see what happens. Then Fri morning I'll be hopping a plane to Cancun. And MAYBE being in the 160s? I'll have to be SUPER good until then but I'm trying my best!

One more thing -- my BFF from 1st grade and I started a food blog a while ago. We've been SLACKERS about posting on it but she's determinded to be a good blogger and is new to this whole world soooo maybe you could go comment? Come on you know you want to! She's trying ot get back on the weight loss wagon and ya'll are so supportive so share the love!

Thats all I got. I'm going to read a bit (have any of you read the Stephenie Meyer books? I'm starting Twilight) and then get to BED.

A Hodgepodge

I've been bad a posting recently. But figured I should get an update!! So here goes....

• Lost another 0.2 (171.8) this week. It's not much but I was just pumped I kept off last week's loss!
• I have to be SUPER good this week because I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to see 160 something on the scale before I leave for Cancun (Fri Morning!!)
• I'm doing another 6 weeks of BOOT CAMP! (Which will be known as TFA going forward -- stands for TopTeam Fitness Academy) I cannot wait! Starts on Monday. Wooo!
• They posted more pictures from the last session. I'm in some of them... and don't look like I'm dying which is an added bonus!
  
• Went shopping yesterday and bought TWO pairs of pants at the Banana Rep. outlet... both are size 14s. I've slowly been throwing out (well donating) my 16s so I don't have the excuse of going back into them if the holidays are rough... you know?
• Did I mention I'm going to Cancun in less than a week? Only for 4 days but hey I'll take what I can get!
• The dating situation is up in the air... I've got on quite a few dates with one guy and like him but am not sure he's all that into me. Such is life! But I'll keep everyone posted haha.
• My TFA trainers have banned carbs after 5pm. We have to turn in a food journal and that's what I have to work on. No carbs and absolutely NO sweets after 5pm. It's SO FREAKING HARD! But I told them I'd try... so I'm trying. I've been eating tons of spag squash for dinner.
  
• I made Pumpkin Oatmeal Thingies yesterday. They're so scrumptious. I love them!
• It's TRIPLE coupon day at the grocery store. I can't wait to go use all of my $0.75 coupons.. they turn into $2.25 when you triple them. Can you say savings?!
• Last year this time is when I started WW hardcore again. Since then I've lost 24.2 pounds. Granted it's taken a year but hey I'm not complaining! I'm still 24 pounds lighter than I was last year at this time so I'll take it!

I think that about sums up my week. I probably wont' be all that good at posting this week again because we're moving to a new office in our building so I'll be packing up all week long... then off to Cancun Fri morning. Yippee!!

Looking Back

I was just looking at what I was blabbing about on this blog a year ago... Shall we have a look?

Well here's a picture of me on last year's MS 150 ride:

Here are two pictures of me from this past weekend's Breast Cancer Awareness Ride:
I look better yes? I think I'm about 20 pounds lighter. If nothing else I at least look HUMAN and happy in the more recent pictures. The first one literally makes me cringe.

And then in my Dec 11 post of last year I wrote this:

Last night I had my first session with my trainer. He's adorable. A student at UNC Charlotte. Anyway, he KICKED MY BUTT. I almost threw up when we were done. I totally felt like I was on the The Biggest Loser. But it was a great kick in the butt! He even made me SWEAR that I'd go back today to do some cardio. I have until Monday to learn how to walk again!

Ahh yes, my first session with TB. I remember it well. And I do remember going to the locker room afterwards, sitting down, and thinking I was going to pass out. Not really knowing how I'd be able to get to the car.

Now I work out with him 3-4 days a week and can still walk!!! I rarely feel like I'm going to throw up (though it does happen still) but I'm so much stronger.

Then in January I wrote this:

Yes, you read correctly above. I did say Triathlete! Why? Because I'm going to be one in 2008! I put registration to the 2008 SheRoxTri in Philadelphia on my Christmas list and my brother signed me up! Yikes! But this is the kick in the pants I need to get back in shape. The MS 150 wasn't pushing me enough anymore since I knew I could do it... even if I did it slowly, I could still do it with minimal training. So on August 3rd I'll (hopefully) be swimming 0.8K, biking 25k and running 5k! Wish me luck as my training starts SOON!

Consider it done! Not only did I do one... I did TWO!

So even though I've been at a bit of a standstill... I'm at least headed in the right direction. I've made progress this year. And I'm proud of that.

Feeling Lazy

Woohoo! It's FRIDAY! I'm so very happy. For some reason this week actually seemed to go by pretty quickly.

Last night boot camp was super hard. I almost cried. But I didn't! I kept it together. It was 62 degrees and drizzling so by the end I was soaking wet. It was a bunch of stations -- most of which I could handle but one of the things was a backwards bear crawl which just sucked. I hated every second of it. And SUCKED at it. I also did something to my shoulder on Tues morning so doing spider man push ups yesterday further aggravated it... good thing I have two days off to rest up and heal!!! This boot camp is taking a toll on my body! YIKES!

I was TOTALLY lazy when I got home and took a LONG, HOT shower, put on sweats, had some toasted cinnamon bread and a bagelful (carbs much???) and sat on the couch and watched TV. I was in bed by 9:30, had the Phillies game on sleep timer and fell asleep when they were down 2-0... then there was a lot of cheering and I woke up to see they were in the lead 3-2!! I was happy about that, turned the TV off went right back to sleep. Then up at 5:30 for yoga. It wasn't as hard today as it was the first week I went. More just a lot of stretches and holding those poses.. not too many crazy strength poses. Thank goodness! And I told her I was just going to do childs pose if there was anything that was bugging my shoulder but nothing did so that was a treat.

Tonight I think I'm laying low. Perhaps another night of a hot shower, sweats and the couch. Tomorrow morning I'm doing a 25 mile breast cancer bike ride. Arleigh is the 'sweeper' for the ride since her shop is sponsoring it so she told me if I did it she'd stay with me since I'll probably be the slowest person anyway teehee. Theres no boot camp tomorrow because TB is out of town so I figured that will be a good cardio workout!

Menu for today. I'm REALLY trying to be good!!!!!

Bfast:
TWO poached eggs on light EM - 5

Lunch:
lentil and barley soup - 2
triscuits and cheese - 3

Snacks:
faux chai tea latte - 1
protein shake - 3
yogurt - 2

Dinner:
no clue. I need to pull it together and have something with veggies and substance for dinner tonight!!!

Is it 5pm yet??

Bullets, Beer and Twitter

I have lots to say today so we'll go bullet style. Yes! That's my favorite way to post hahaha.

• My best friend from first grade is in town visiting this weekend. YES! I'm so excited to hang out with her :)
• We are doing the Race for the Cure tomorrow morning! We'll most likely do a walk/run combo - I can't wait!
• My eating this week has been ALL over the place but I'm trying to be as good as I can considering I was on vacation Sat-Tues, have a friend in town this weekend AND haven't been to the grocery store in over a week
• I went to boot camp Wed morning and last night! I was crank city yesterday and did not want to be there but when it was over I was so happy I went. The workout was actually sort of fun, other than running up and down a huge hill and around soccer fields
• AND the website for boot camp is finally up. I'd link it but I'd rather not have it come up that it was through my site (I don't need TB knowing what I eat everyday hahahaha). There are pictures of TB and his GF all over, so very vain, but it cracks me up. It's topteamfitnessacademy with a little .com at the end. So take two seconds to type it out :)
• I joined twitter!!! My username is jeannie962. I don't really get it, but if you twitter (or is it twit?) too come find me.
• Date on Wed night went well. Not much chemistry, but we shall see. We did have a really fun time, drank a few beers and laughed a lot. I'll be sure to keep you posted.
  
• I had the BEST beer last night. I don't usually drink beer but I couldn't pass this one up. It's Cottonwood's Pumpkin Spiced Ale. AMAZING! You can really taste the pumpkin and spices. It was like desserty! Delish.
• I'm sorry that I haven't been commenting on all the BLBE blogs this week, it's just been a little bit crazy! Hopefully next week will be better but I've been reading along in my google reader and cheering everyone on in my head! Keep up the good work. Hopefully I'll have at least a little loss to counteract last week's GAIN.
• I've had two P-Spice latte's (translation: pumpkin spice lattes) this week. I made myself wait until Oct to try them so you bet your ass that after getting just 4 hours of sleep on Tues night and 6 on Wed night I was pumping myself full of caffeine p spice latte style on Oct 1 and 2. I LOVE THEM!
  
• I'm wearing jeans today that I bought FOUR years ago and have never fit into. Talk about a good feeling!!!!
• I'm obsessed with this birth control the dr. put me on. It's Seasonale where you only get your period once every 3 months.. which sort of irked me but she assured me it's ok. So uhm for the first time in THREE MONTHS I have my period and it's so much better than it used to be. Still have cramps but not nearly as bad and really... every THREE months? Amazing!! Sorry if that was TMI but I'm just totally obsessed :)

Whew... I think that's it. I hope today flies by so I can go home and hang out with my visitor!!! So evil that I have to be here today while she's in town. Stinkin work.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

A Morning in the Kitchen

I can't remember if I posted my WI yesterday... if not it was 175.2. I'm started my tracker over on the side with this weigh in for The Challenge!

I was up at 7:30 today. That's early for me -- I can't even get up at that time for work during the week! Why is it I have no trouble getting up on the weekend, but Mon-Fri I can't pull myself out of bed... hmmmm.

I let the pup out and got to work in the kitchen! By noon I'd done the following:
- Made 2 servings of salmon
- Made a batch of pumpkin waffles
- Made Chicken Cakes (the recipe was on Roni's old site but it doesnt seem she moved it over to her new site)... basically think crab cakes but with chicken and a light version
- Made Meatloaf Muffins
- Made a batch of dog treats
- Made chewy pumpkin bars (with some modifications)
- Made 2 servings of cous cous
- Made 2 servings of brown rice
- Went to the food store to grab a few things
- Packed my lunch for tomorrow

Whew! I'm pretty much DONE cooking for the week! I've got rice/cous cous for my starch. I've got chicken, beef and fish items all cooked up. Tonight I'll whip up some asparagus with dinner and then have that as well. Perfecto!! I even made a full menu of bfast/lunch/dinner for the week. Now if I can just stick to it I'll be in good shape.

Now that all the hard work is out of the way and the dishes are done I'm sitting down to watch some football. Pathers on now... and Eagles on at 4:15. Woohoo! Also... dog park run at some point.

In other news I'm watching Fiona this week. Maddie hasn't really seen her since Ar left so I know she'll be beside herself with excitement when Fiona comes to play for a whole week! And my roommate is out of town from Wed-Sat so it'll be me... Maddie, Fiona and Milo (roommates dog). YIKES!

Best $19 I've spent in a while!

I took Maddie for a walk last night using her new harness. She did AWESOME! She didn't pull at all (other than the first 2 or 3 minutes... she's always way too excited to contain herself), and there was no gagging from her collar! I was so excited. We probably walked about a mile.

I also hit up the pool last night... it was still REALLY crowded and they don't have a lap lane or anything, but I did my best navigating through all the kids playing. I did 38 laps in 30 minutes... I need to get that time down! I think from now on I'll plan on doing my swims Mon-Thurs from 8-8:30 PM as that is reserved for adult swim. Sweet! I'm hoping to head back tonight.

I didn't eat nearly enough yesterday. I think I ate 14 points? NOT HEALTHY! I know this, as does the scale. It didn't budge, just went up a tiny bit. (Though I wasn't not eating to lose weight, just couldn't stomach food yesterday for some reason) Today I've packed a good breakfast and lunch and am determined to eat it all (appetite or not).

Breakfast:
1/4 cup quick oats, 1/4 cup granola, 1/2 cup light vanilla soy milk, fresh berries - 5

Lunch:
Roni's Southwest Burger on light EM w/ feta cheese - 5
cherries - 1

Snacks:
PB Bliss Bar - 1
Jello w/ fruit - 0
Yogurt - 2

Dinner:
Going out for sushi! I'll get Miso soup and some veggie rolls

Errands

Ar came over this morning to pick up Fiona -- so it's officially just me and Maddie. She seems to be doing ok, but I'm sure she's curious as to where Fiona is. I wasted no time in heading out to run some errands after Ar left.

First I hit up Kohls to return a bathing suit I bought. I got in while I was home and tried it on again and realized it just wasn't worth the 40 bucks. Then I hit up Pet Smart. Got the pup a harness (so hopefully she'll stop choking herself on walks), some toys, 50 pounds of food (please let that last a while!) and a new name tag. The other one had some of Ar's info on it. So miss Maddie is set to go! Then I ventured to Target which is right next door and of course spent more money than I'd anticipated. I got new air filters (they are way overdue for a changing), a bike pump (so I can ride again!), cute new tumblers (they were 75% off and ended up being 48 cents each!!), hair stuff and treated myself to a soft pretzel while I was shopping.

Now I'm trying to get some organization to the house. I still need to unpack and do laundry, I want to get some meals made for lunches for the week, and I want to do a little de-cluttering. (the kitchen counters are full of stuff!)

I'm thinking of heading to the pool around 6:30 to swim a bit. I tried to go last night and it started thundering and lightening. Not cool. So tonight we'll do that and then when it cools off a bit Miss Maddie and I are off for a walk to see how she does with her harness!

I also have LOFTY goals to get up at 6am tomorrow. I'd like to get in a quick bike ride, then take Maddie for a walk before work. She's going to be in her crate a bit more now that I'm the only caretaker so that means more walks so she doesn't go crazy! Also because she's down a playmate since Fiona left, I want to make sure she's still a happy pup :)

Yay Friday!

I'm SO very ready for 5pm. But alas, 1.5 more hours to go. I've been having a great day though. Got to work early and walked around the lake once. A coworker of mine (who is so great) got engaged last night and I'm SO excited for her and her fiance! Love it. I've been eating well and walked around the lake again with work people and then two more times on my lunch break! So 4 miles so far today which is good as I won't be able to make it to the gym. I'm babysitting right after work so hopefully I'll burn off a few more calories chasing after the little one.

Weigh in is tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but being that I got my period today and have eaten 100 pounds of sugar this week it'll be a miracle if I see a loss. But a girl can dream, right?

Not too much in the works for the weekend. I'm hoping a nice long ride one day and hopefully I'll get some SUN too :)

My dress came for my cousins wedding in May. It's really pretty, but I don't know that I love it as much as I thought I was going to. It fits fine in the chest and hips (shocking) but the stomach is all baggy. It's quite strange. I just hope the seamstress can work some magic so it doesn't look so frumpy.

Sugar Detox

Monday and Tuesday I ate a lot of sugar. TOO much sugar. People brought baked goods into work... and I just went to town. I literally felt ill both nights. It affected my workouts. It was just dreadful.

So yesterday I tried to detox a bit. It went ok. Not perfect, but not horrible either. I got home from work and had a headache (probably from the lack of sugar, hello!) and ate more than I should have (but good stuff) and vegged on the couch. No working out for me, but that's ok. I also watched an ABC Family original movie called Princess. It was really cheesy and bad but I couldn't turn it off! Ha.

Today, however, I woke up ready to go! I was all set to get to work early and walk around the lake and Bryan (my neighbor and coworker) called and said that his car wouldn't start to could I bring him. He wasn't totally ready so I waited around for him which means no early walk around the lake. It's ok though! I'll go later with the girls and I WILL work out tonight. I'm going to the gym straight from work. I'll do legs, abs and then some cardio! Also - despite shoving anything and everything with sugar into my mouth I saw an ok number on the scale this morning. Let's hope it holds steady!! Another day with TONS of water.

In crappy news I got paid yesterday and today am already back to LESS THAN 150 bucks in my account. I hate it. I hate living pay check to pay check and trying to pay off all of my debt. It's the worst. I'm going to have to be EXTRA good this month with the wedding and a mini vacation the last week of May. So NO spending for me. No eating out (other than half price lunch on Tuesday as its my big indulgence ha!) and no impulse buys at the food store. I need to learn to SACRIFICE because I DONT make a million dollars. I am babysitting on Friday so that will give me a few extra dollars at least!

Menu...

Bfast:
SMOOTHIE madness (I forgot a straw!!) - 4

Lunch:
leftover sausage, peps and onions - 3
toasted english muffin w/ light veggie cream cheese - 2

Snacks:
ww pb delight - 1
1/2 apple - 0.5
banana, strawbs and grapes - 1.5

Dinner:
NO idea. Anyone have any ideas??? I had a burger on Sunday but migth have that again....
Burger on light EM w/ 1/2 slice cheese - 6
leftover corn on the cob - 1
asparaugs - 0

That will still leave me with 5 points for the day. SWEET!

PS - I can't straighten my arms today.... THREE days after working out with TB I'm still hurting. Yikes. Looks like someone needs to lift more on her own, eh?

Friday Fun Day!

Morning. HAPPY FRIDAY! I'm in a good mood today, feeling a bit sore and loving it!

Last night was a good night...I was still SO FREAKIN FULL from lunch (went out and had crappy food that left me feeling icky) that I didn't really eat dinner. I made myself eat a granola bar before going to the gym (Kashi chewy trail mix bar... they're 2 points and I LOVE them) so I didn't pass out on Trainer Boy, but I still really wasn't hungry. Worked out with TB then did 25 minutes walking on the treadmill just to walk out the pain in my quads. I got home and was a little bit hungry so I had a bowl of cinnamon life. I know, I know millions of carbs, but I wasn't about to whip up something at 8pm. I also drank a BOATLOAD of water and sweat like nobody's business at the gym. I usually don't sweat that much when I lift but TB had me doing "super sets" (as he liked to call them) of squats and lunges and I was DRIPPING... it was sexy. I could pretty much ring my t-shirt out by the time I left. Let's hear it for working out in the south! Also, TB is going to just one day a week. He dropped more than half of his clients... but I made the cut! He was like "If you want to keep working out with me, you're going to have to switch to Monday" I made like I was shocked and appalled but then told him that would actually work out better. Soooo I see him on Monday! Which is like 4 days away... I sure hope I can walk.

I'm already ravenous today. Yikes.

Tomorrow I'm working at the Olympic Team Trials at the US National Whitewater center. I think it will be a really fun even if I have to work the WFAE prize wheel the whole time. Booo. But I'll get paid and we have access to the VIP tent so free food and beverages :)

Ok Menu...

Bfast:
whole grain pancakes w/ pb - 4

Lunch - Hopefully we'll go to Lava and I'll get:
Lava salad (cucumbers, lettuce, peps, pumpkin seeds and feta) - 4
soup of the day - 3 or so?

Snacks:
yogurt - 2
grapes - 1
strawbs - 0

Dinner:
No idea. Something with CHICKEN!

Happy Friday... drink lots of water!!

Puppies and Baking

I had a little impromtu baking session last night. You see, when I got home from work last night I guess I didn't close the back gate all the way. And when it's nice out we just leave the kitchen door open for the pups to run in and out (and yes some bugs, but it's worth it to not have to keeping letting Maddie and Fiona in or out). So anyway, I'm making dinner and the house phone rings. I didn't recognize the name so I ignored it thinking it was someone calling for Ar. Then the same number called my cell phone and I was like jeepers who is this?? So I answered and it was a woman and she asked me if I lived in Old Stone Crossing, then if I had a chocolate lab. I immediately looked in the backyard and saw the gate was open!!! I freaked -- the woman was like and do you have a fluffy black dog as well? She had both of them and was asking where I lived so she could bring them to me. Well.... I walked outside and she was LITERALLY in the front yard. So miss Maddie and Fiona didn't stray too far -- but thank GOODNESS the woman called!!!! I was so flustered that I just sort of corralled the pups into the back yard and didn't even ask their names or anything -- just said thank you and ran away. BUT then I realized the name came up on the house phone caller ID so I went to the Old Stone Crossing Directory online and found where they live... so I made them cupcakes last night and I'll bring them over tonight to thank them. But of course I wasn't going to bring them 24 cupcakes!!! So I made 12 big cupcakes (8 for them). Ar ate one of the big ones and I put the other 3 away. Then I made 24 mini cupcakes and brought them to work today. I just ate one but won't have anymore! Whew... so hopefully that baking session didn't sabotage me TOO much.

After ALL of that excitement and baking I got up the energy to go to the gym. I did day 2 of week 5 on the Couch to 5k. 5 min warm up, run for 8 min, walk for 5, run for 8, 5 min cool down. Cripes it was hard. And I kept thinking next time I need to KEEP RUNNING for 20 min straight. I'm really going to give it my best on Fri, but if I can't do it I'll just keep at it until I can. So when I'm ready to quit someone send this to me :) Also... I have NO idea how I'll run at all after just swimming 1/2 mile and biking 18 miles. HA! Whos idea was this triathlon again???

In other, completely unrelated news, I'm wearing a cute dress today :)

Menu is all out of whack. I had a bad lunch... well yummy, but not healthy. A few people took me out for admin professionals week or whatever. Honestly I didn't even know that was this week and I tried to convince them not to take me out, but I lost. And a DIFFERENT group of people are taking me out tomorrow. I feel horrible because I'd so much rather just stay at work and eat my healthy lunch then take my lunch break to run some errands. But alas, they are being nice and I should appreciate it. Just hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get a salad or something! I'm going to gain a million pounds this week if I keep this up!

I think I have Trainer Boy tonight but forgot to check his book last night. So I'll go at 7 and keep my fingers crossed! He better have me on the schedule... I've missed being sore all over!

Cake, Running and Reading

Just thought I should check in since I realize it's been a few days since I posted. And by few days I mean ONE. Whatever, it seems like it's been more than that.

I had a little slip up on Tuesday night. Just ate crappy stuff, and too much of it and then decided screw it all... and skipped the gym. But I got right back on track yesterday and had close to a perfect day. Ate only 26 points (2 over), got to the gym and get this... ran for 18 minutes! I did 3, then 90 seconds off, then TEN, then 4 minutes off, then five. I was so proud of myself. And when I was doing the 10 minute run, I think I could have gone another minute. We shall see on Friday :) I'm actually looking forward to it. Who am I and what happened to that girl who HATES the treadmill???

It's beautiful here today. Clear blue skies and 76 degrees. I'm excited to go home tonight, put the cushions on our patio furniture and read while the pups run around going crazy. I got The Friday Night Knitting Club for my birthday and started it last night, it's really cute. Perfect to read while enjoying a late spring afternoon. Yes!

After I so some reading, eat dinner, and dry my gym clothes (they are all sitting in the washer right now) I'll head off to the gym. And might stop at Target on the way home from the gym. I have stuff to return there and I need to get some birthday cards. But we'll see if that actually happens. I'm usually ready to hit the shower as soon as I leave the gym!

Todays menu:

Bfast:
milk - 2
whole grain pancakes - 2

Lunch - We went out to a local place for an autism awareness fundraiser
Island salad (grilled salmon, grilled pineapple, cheese, cucumbers, tomato) - 10

Snacks:
fruit salad w/ ff redi whip - 2

Dinner:
HG's alfredo sauce over Ronzoni Smart pasta w/ broc and red peps- 5

Snack:
Not sure -- something for 3 or 4 points

And last but not least... there is cake in the kitchen at work right now. A HUGE ass cake. EVERYONE has been eating it all day. Carrying plates of cake around. And talking to me with lips tinted blue from the icing. But did I cave and have any? NO I DIDN'T! Am I so freakin proud I could cry? HELLS YEAH! So let's hope that in the next 19 minutes I don't cave. Sure would suck to have to edit this post :)

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!

Lesson Learned -- The Clock is NOT my Friend

It's finally Friday! And its sunny and 62 right now. Going up to 79! I cannot WAIT! I'm planning on running errands at lunch in my flips, jeans and t-shirt. I love my job and the sun. If I can scoot out of here early you can bet your behind I will be doing so. And going DIRECTLY to the gym to do my last day of week 3 couch to 5k. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I'm hyper. ha!

Last night I made eggs for dinner. They were yummy. I needed protein but couldn't bare the thought of cooking meat. Then I hit up the gym with Trainer Boy....

I got myself in trouble by looking at the clock at one point (in my defense I felt like I'd been doing side lunges for 20 minutes, whatever apparently it was only 4) and he was like "Are you looking at the clock? I know you'd never do that! You love this time with me! BUT, if you want to do a clock drill, we can do that next" FAAAAAAAAHCK! What came up next? WALL SITS! So TB gets up against the wall, takes a seat and says "All you have to do is sit like this for 1 minute. Easy, right?" Before I even started I was scared because I knew 15 seconds was pushing it. teehee. Soooo I did 20 seconds, and had to stop. Bad idea. TB decided like the longer break I took I'm he was going to subtract the time of my 'break' from the 20 seconds I already did... So he's all "Get back down, you still have 40 seconds...... up now its 45 seconds....." and so on. So I got down again and think I did 55 seconds (total, not at once). And then we did it again. Good lord. It was horrible. The second go round he started saying "Just think about something else. It's totally mind over matter... see? you've already done 5 seconds!" With an evil, I love to watch people suffer, grin on his face. To which I replied "If you'd shut the hell up maybe I COULD think about something else!" He laughed and mentioned how he wished all his clients were as sweet as me. I also told him I hated him with a deep passion. Which, at that moment, I really did.

So lesson learned, never will I look at the clock again. Though now that he knows how much I LOVE them, I'm sure he'll add it to the regular rotation. I'm thinking of trying to do at least 1 minute/day to get better. It's something I can do while waiting for my tea water to boil for heavens sake! We'll see if that happens. But for today... my butt is feeling it. From the wall sits or lunges I'm not sure... but I'm making muscle baby and that means I'm burning fat. YEAH!

Weigh in tomorrow. I really hope to see just a little bitty loss. I'd be PUMPED to see 1 lb. Here's hoping!!

I made iced tea this morning. Boiled a big pot of water and used 1 bag of cran-pom green tea and a bag of regular black tea. Then poured it over a huge glass of ice with a squeeze of lemon. It's the perfect morning treat.

What's everyone up to this weekend? I'm not sure what were doing. Tomorrow I'll do WI and then lift at the gym. If it's nice I'm hoping to ride later in the afternoon -- but they're calling for scattered T-storms, so we shall see. Then a friend of mine is playing at the Wine Vault tomorrow night so Ar and I might go. We shall see. At some point we need to get an insane amount of cleaning done as our house is a MESS and our backyard looks like a jungle!!! So probably Sunday will be spent doing all of that. Hopefully my allergies will be in check by the time yard work rolls around.

Hmmm what else? Oh right -- confession. Last night I got home from the gym and had THREE peanut butter (tagalong-esque) cookies when I got home from the gym AND a freakin WW cookies n cream bar. EIGHT points of snacks. Granted I counted all of them. But that was a wee bit too much sugar/carbs/bad stuff for after 8pm (even it it was only 8:10). BAD jeannie. Oh well... we all mess up, right? Back on track today!

Bfast:
iced tea - 0
waffles w/ fruit on top - 3

Lunch:
pb&j from yesterday! - 3
yogurt - 2

Snacks:
honey nut chex w/ milk - 3 (mil serving)
strawbs and naner w/ whipped cream - 2
celery - 0

Dinner:
Not a clue... any suggestions? Maybe I'll do burgers and dogs on the grill.

TONS of water today and for real no eating after 8pm. That scale is going to be ready for me first thing tomorrow morning!!!