Damn you scale!

My weigh in today was not great. I am up 2 lbs. I was prepared for this, and started looking back over the last week..... While my workouts were great, my diet was not. On Friday I was SO excited I'd made it 30 days without pizza that I promptly ate a bunch of pizza. No bueno. I did, however get a run in the day after. 2.5 miles. The most I have run in ages! However then I went home and had more pizza. I didn't track my food at all this week either. And I ran out of my flat bread wraps, so I'll be getting there today to get more. I also REALLY indulged on Wed. I ended up at an old favorite for dinner. A local burger joint. Where I had a huge burger and fries. and then a big icecream sunday with peanut butter and hot fudged. First of all, the burger wasn't nearly as good as I remembered. So not worth it. I had the worst case of gut rot after and hated how I felt. The ice cream, though, was amazing. Oh we also had the super bowl last Sunday and I made chocolate chip bars for it. After I ate like half the batter. AHHHH. So, my plan: I am tracking. Already I feel better. Tracking,and just sticking with what works. The same breakfast, lunch and snacks each day, and a dinner that might be a little more lose in the calories, but I will have earned it. Here's to losing 7 lbs in feb to make up for the 2 I gained.

Final Jan Weigh-In and Measurements

Don't worry, this is a sports bra. ha ha. So, my final Jan weigh in has me at 163 on the nose Measurements are: Bust: 34 inches, -2 inches Chest 32 inches, -.5 inches Waist: 353/4 , -.75 Hips 42 inches, minus 2 inches. Over all, it's a great day! I think my pictures are looking better and I am sitting comfortably in jeans that were too tight a month ago. I am going to have some pizza tonight at our school's movie night. Cause I gotta celebrate a little :)

Week 3

This has been an interesting week. I wasn't as good with my dinner planning as I had been last week. I also pretty much stayed within my calories, yet instead of as many fruits/vegs I ate pretzels and a couple different snacks that are higher calories. When I got on the scale today, I was up 1#. Ugh. But, not to fret. I immediately got back on track. I'd already been to the store last night and loaded up on more veggies for my wraps, and they had strawberries! I was so excited! So today I had my normal yogurt/granola breakfast, and orange and a WW chocolate for snack, then my veggie and turkey wrap. I used a laughing cow wedge for 25 calories vs 60 for my shredded mozz cheese. Then I had a bowl of strawberries and cottage cheese on the side. MMMMMMM I also tried Crossfit style work outs this week. I have to say, I am not a fan. I can see incorportaing them a couple times a week, but not on a regular basis. I am also contributing that to my 1# weight increase. I miss my traditional 30 minutes of cardio and split weight training. So I am back to that on Monday!

Friday Check-In

Today is a good day. This week has been a great week! I have really stuck to my plan. I've eaten smaller portions, felt full and got a grip on the mindless snacking. I woke up at 5:30 this morning, excited and anxious to see if the scale budged at all in my favor. It did!!! I lost 3.1 lbs!!!!! I am so happy! this is better than I ever did on Weight Watchers last year, or the time I tried Advocare's 24 day challenge. I feel like I am off and running! I have been exploring some different workouts. Next week I am going to start more HIIT/Crossfit type workouts and see where that gets me. Its all about finding out what works for you. So far, I am loving the fact that I am in a weight loss support group with my mom, and my 3 very best pals from home. It makes such a difference!!!

Workout

http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-routines/strategic-circuit-training-maximum-calorie-burn This is the workout that I did last week. I love it! I'm keeping it for future use

First Week

This week went SO well in some aspects, and not so well in others. The good: My week started off shaky. I wasn't feeling great and had a couple of not so great workouts. Hey, something is better than nothing though. Monday I did some Piyo. It was a Crunch Fitness video I found on youtube. I ate well all day, but then we had a PTA meeting Monday night and I didn't plan a dinner (this is the biggest lesson I've learned this week. I need to plan better). I made popcorn for dinner.... Tuesday I started my new class at the gym. I've taken classes with this instructor before and he's always intense. The class was from 6-6:30 and I wanted to get something in before hand but I wasn't sure if I should run and over do it, then feel beat by the time I get to his class. I decided to spin fo about 25 minutes. I also did make a good dinner and only ate half of what I normally would with this dish. Wednesday was a day of struggle. I got to the gym ready to go. I finally felt better and I had planned to use the stair climber and then do a full body HIIT workout. Well, I got off the stairs and felt like I was starving. Then I felt like I was weak and shaky from being so hungry. I shouldn't have been hungry, I ate well and ate plenty.... So, I ended up riding the bike for another 20 minutes and doing some abs. I hate that I couldn't do the workout I had planned. But when Thursday rolled around, I was at my best. I found a great workout from Muscle and Fitness mag that I wrote up and did and then I ran 3 set of Tabata sprints. Those are KILLER. basically, I warm up with a jog at around 6 (speed), then after 3 minutes I start my first set. It's 4 minutes long of 20 seconds on 10 seconds off. I set the speed at 8 and move it up 2 for each following set. Friday was an off day, Sat I did the same workout again, only added in spin. Yesterday was an off day. Saturday night we got together with friends. I did splurge. More than I realized. I only had 1 beer and a rumchata shot, but I slept like utter crap. I felt tired and sluggish yesterday. Ok, buh-bye all alcohol for a little while. I totally ate like crap yesterday and between that and my not so good dinners, I paid for it on the scale this morning. Positives of the week: Brett has started regularly going to the gym. He is set up with a trainer. And the best of all: He agreed, willingly to take the 21 day body transformation challenge with me at our gym. FINALLY!!!!! My goals for this week: PLAN MY DINNERS! I have a roast in the crock pot right now. I am going to make a veggie and roast some baby red taters. I have most of my dinners planned for the week. Keep eating fruit! I have discovered oranges aren't as bad as I thought! Start my split training again. Working certain body parts with each workout vs full body each time.

Let The Games Begin!

Ugh, barf. I can't believe I am sharing these with whoever might stumble upon them. Lets hope we NEVER see this body again. My next pics I post (now that I've figured it out) will be 10# loss and so on and so on.... Stats: Weight: 167.7 Bust: 36 (Holy schmoly, that's really big for me. I am usually like a 32. NO BUENO!) Chest: 32.5 Waist: 36.5 Hips: 44, again. YIKES! I feel so much more confident in my journey this time. I really hope that the momentum continues. I am already down 1.5 lb from my melt down in the zoo 2 weeks ago when I was walking with my son and my fat jeans, already snug, popped open. yeah, big clue it's time to tighten the reigns!!! I had plans to meet my friend at the gym for 5:30 boot camp but really wasn't feeling well, so I slept in and then did some Yoga/Pilates at lunch. I am starting my Kettlebell/TRX class tomorrow and hoping to get a run in before hand!

Getting down and dirty

Day 2. it's going much better than I thought. And I'm doing a lot of reflecting. I really REALLY hope I can stay on this path because it feels so good. And I am so lucky to have my 2 childhood best friends along side me in all of this. So, a couple of things that I could easily break into 2 posts, but won't. 1. One thing I have decided I HAVE to stop instantly is my social smoking. I used to be a heavy smoker until we decided it was time to have kids. After Will was born I'd buy a pack here and there, and once I started going out with my friends I'd bring the smokes along. If I am drinking I crave a cigarette. But I feel like shit for days after. Even if I've had only a couple of beers. I will still sit and chain smoke. I can't do it. I really hope my son doesn't pick up this habit because it really is a gross one. Not only the smell of smoke, or smoker's breath, but the health affects that it leaves. So, I gave the rest of my pack to Brett and said give these away to someone at work (who is not at the point of quitting. And they're so expensive, I don't want them to go to waste. OOOhhhh the irony!) 2. if you take workout classes what do you look for in an instructor? For the most part, the instructors at my gym are awesome. Today, though I was less than impressed with the spin instructor. To the point of I almost got up and left. She was almost 10 minutes late. WHAT THE FRIG! class starts at 8 and you should be there ready to go by 10 to in my book. Then after sauntering in late instead of getting going, it's a few minutes of slowly getting the music on, getting her bike ready... ect. If it were me I would have started class while getting my own self set up. I had to be done by 8:45 when the class was scheduled to be over, so I left "early" and felt like I kind of got the side eye from her for doing so. I wanted to get in my abs and then get out of there by 9 so we could get ready for Will's basket ball game. Things I look for in an instructor: BEING ON TIME! Being energetic. Knowing your stuff. Sticking with the format. This spin chick had us getting off the bike to do squats. Ok, it's a cardio day I don't want to do lunges and squats. I did them yesterday. I am HERE TO SPIN! I don't usually feel so irritated, but that really got on my nerves today. Ugh, here's to tomorrow. It's REST day!!!

Welcome to 2015

Its January 1! Insane. Last year went by in the blink of an eye!!!! We celebrated by having a family dinner at our favorite Mexican joint here in West Allis. I have been making small cuts here and there over the past week to be ready for the BIG change that's going to happen beginning on Monday. So, I ordered the tacos. They're small-ish. I get ground beef and then it comes with some lettuce, tomatoes and cheese on it. Like a real little bit. I add on just a small amount of Guace and sour cream. I also order the rice because it is OH SO YUMMY. So, it comes with 3. I ate 1.5 and took the rest home. No soda, just water. then we had some friends in for Charades and other games. It was fun, but our kids were all WILLLLDDDDD! That made me a bit nutty, but we still had fun. Everyone was out by 12:30, and I got Will into bed and then read for an hour. Brett had a case of the snores last night. lovely. So I did end up heading down to the couch for some proper sleep, and I slept until 8 am. No thanks to my dog who was mad he had to be kenneled Wed night because there was just too much chaos for him to be milling around. So, at 7:40 he was barking like a maniac. Will slept until 9:30 and Brett until 10. We have had a LAZY day. We got our tree taken down, and lots of cleaning. Then we cheered on the Badgers and then went out for our final burger for a long time. I've decided to challenge myself to NO pizza and NO fast food for 30 days. I know we have a school fundraiser night at a sub place, so we'll do that in a few weeks, and we have dinner plans at a restaurant, not McDonald's. I can do this! I am also off the soda wagon too. I have been just drinking a ton of water, using my soda stream about once a day, and having my coffee with skim milk in the am. Tomorrow, Will and I are meeting a friend of his so they can run around for the day, but when we're done, Trader Joes, here we come!!!!! I have plans to make some good, lean meats for dinner, along with veggies or something. That's my goal, low cal and healthy. Here's to MY year!

AHHHH 2015 is almost here! And its going to be MY YEAR!

It has been a hot minute since I've blogged in any capacity. And this past year has been one filled with scale struggles. I started off just feeling awful about how I looked and how I felt. I wanted to revamp my diet. I know this is where I lack. I can workout for as long as I want, but then when I come home and eat pizza that ruins anything I've done at the gym. Balance. I lack it. I want it. I felt like I needed to start counting calories. So I did that, but then by the evening I was over logging everything I ate. Finally, in May I met with the dietitian at my gym. I consider her my food therapist. I had been researching all of these different ways to lose weight. and one was called if it fits your macros. SO.MUCH.WORK. I want something simple. I am ok with tracking and counting calories, but I need simplicity. Anything beyond that leads me to feel guilt and like its a chore. Being healthy is work, but it doesn't need to be nearly as hard as we make it. My year has been up and down on the scale. Until I stopped caring and stopped weighing myself. Then I got the bright idea that I needed to check in with the old scale. It was not pretty. In fact, I as up 10 lbs from the summer. Ugh. However, I didn't feel the defeat and guilt I normally would have. I decided that I can't go on this way. I NEED to make changes. That next week I was at the zoo walking in my fat pants that are tight when the zipper popped open. Ugh, then I felt the defeat and sadness. I did this to myself. I need to make changes. I found myself pulling out old MATERNITY sweat pants and lounging in them all night long. It was horrible. I called my best friend and we had a long talk. She recently lost a good chunk of weight herself. Her secret? It wasn't that hard. She made herself more aware of eating low cal foods and cutting back portions. I need to do that. So, starting tomorrow, that's what is going to happen. I've been losely working on it so far, but I need to make some BIG changes. if I don't my weight will become really out of control and before I know it, well, it won't be pretty. My plan: My childhood friends, my mom and I are starting our own weight loss support group. Think weight watchers, only we're not counting points. We'er making changes! I feel like for the last 8 years I've done nothing but bitch about my weight. I can't anymore. I want to just cut portions, watch calories and LOSE. I want to be a big OLE LOSER!!! On Monday I'll take my before pics, weight and measurements Ugh. Nothing worse than having to tell your mom what you weigh! But it has to happen. It just does! Here's to 2015!

Tough Love

There comes a time when you need to just get tough with yourself. For me, I work out regularly and I work out hard. I run usually 3 miles on the tredmill, with a longer run of 5 miles or more once a week. I lift weights, I do crazy workouts. My scale is barely budging. They say abs are made in the kitchen, right? Well, mine certainly are. I've been living on pizza this summer, and I've gone out drinking more than I have in a long time. Oh and I refused to step on the scale. Not weighing yourself can be good in some regards, but for me I need to weigh in. Sure my clothes fit fine, but I am not at my goal weight yet so I need to keep checking in. I haven't weighed myself since early June. After my last weigh in, I went in for that Mammo that came back with a lump. So, that set off a week of emotional eating, not caring and not exercising. I think I ate pizza every day that week. No joke. When I got my results back, I sat up drinking wine and beer and celebrating. Then hitting up McDonald's the next day. barf. I never stepped on the scale again after that. Recently, I've felt more jiggly and bloated. My clothes feel fine, but I don't if that makes sense. I've been trying to keep a healthy diet this summer, but then ice cream ends up in my hands, and I get the urge for some pizza so we go with it.... I've been enjoying the "good" things too often this summer. And I need to reign it in! I can't let my son's diet be this out of control, or I will be to blame if he becomes over weight. He is young yet so it is still up to me to make sure he's eating well. Mostly, he does but he enjoys gatorade way too often. He enjoys concession stand food a little too much ( we lived at the ball park this summer for Little League). I've reached my breaking point. I have decided I need to instill tough love on myself. This means that every morning, not weekly, not monthly.... EVERY morning, I have to weigh my self. I am paying too much money for the gym to not see any results. I am working out to the point that I should see results. For me it is ALL my diet. So, I'm making changes to my diet to include, pizza no more than 1 time every other week (I'd like to say once a month, but lets be realistic. Pizza is a staple to me. ha ha!)Ice cream has to be a occasional treat. Its time to hit the Farmer's Market and get more fresh veggies and fruits into out bellies. I thought about getting up an hour earlier and adding in an additional 30 minute workout DVD, but I struggle with that. For so many years, I was up at 4:30 in order to be at the gym and on the treadmill by 5 am. I think I burned myself out on that. And honestly, I like stying up late to read, or watch tv or whatever the case may be. So, I hopped on the scale today for my day one weigh in. What do you know..... I haven't gained ONE lb. So, this just goes to show that you FEEL so much better when you're eating well and not living on pizza and ice cream, as I have been. I want to be realistic about this, I love pizza. I have an excellent home made recipe that is much healthier than ordering from a pizza place. Ok, so if I want pizza, make it at home. I try to eat healthy vs clean. Clean is fine, but there are some foods that I just want to eat and don't want to eliminate. I try and keep the sugar count low, the whole grain count high, fat and calories to a minimum. I've been using several resourses such as clean-ish recipes on pinterest and things like that.... So, here's to turning a new leaf. Hopefully, by the end of the year I am where I want to be or much closer to it!!

Book Love

Besides running/gym time, another hobby of mine is reading. I have a few authors that I love to follow. I also have about 3 big piles of books I've picked up over the months that I need to get through. But then my faves will come out with a new book and I'll have 3 coming in from the library at once and new releases are usually just a 7 day check out.

I am trying to get through the newest Harlen Coben book, Six Years. It sounds SOOOOO good. yet, I can't read it in just 7 days. Grrrr. I have to keep returning it and reserving it again.

One of my newest faves, Chevy Stevens has a book that just came out on Tuesday. If you have not read her stuff yet and love thrillers, I highly reccomend her other 2 books. The newest is called Always Watching.

Another series I love is a series by Linda Castillio. It's an Amish crime series. The 4th book was just released and I am anxiously awaiting it to come into my library for me! Hers are books I can generally read in a weekend.

For the record, I can not get into my 5 AM gym groove anymore because I love to stay up late and read my books and watch The Big Bang Theory.

The Results

I realized I never came back to update this. 2 weeks ago was the WORST day of my life so far. I got to the clinic and upon check in the receptionist asked for my ID and said, I know who wants to sit in as someone else for their mammo, but there are strange people out there. And then she wished me luck. Ugh. that's a little unnerving.

When I got in they showed me the pictures from the mammo I'd had that Tuesday. There it was, clear as a bell. A bean sized lump. My heart sank. She got me ready and took 2 more pictures on the left side. I could see them in a reflection in a picture on the wall behind her computer. I saw the spot again and just felt like.... ugh. My son. what will my son do without me to help raise him? That is the thought that ran through my head over and over. How will he remember me? Have I been a good enough mom? How will my friends and family remember me?

I was then taken for an ultrasound. It ended up being more like 3 different ultrasounds as they started exploring the lymph nodes of my arm pit. That made me feel very edgy. I know that the statistics for Breast Cancer are more in my favor now, but lymph nodes? That is not a good thing...... The Dr. came in at this point, and I have to say that between him and the ultrasound tech I had the BEST care possible. They were both so calming and honest with me. They made me feel as comfortable as possible. And for that I will be forever grateful!

The Doc decided he needed to biopsy this lump. and that about set me over the edge. Wasn't this just supposed to be a quick check up? an hour at most? at this point I'd been there for almost 2 hours and my anxiety was at an all time high. It took them about 20 miutes to get the paper work and the room ready. The proceedure itself took maybe a half hour at most. I was numbed up and then they had to paper punch some samples and put a clip in. Then I had ONE more picture taken. My head hurt at this point. and the worst, I wouldn't get the results until the next morning.

I tried my hardest to keep a clear head about me. To not let my mind wander, but it was really hard. I'd be fine one minute and then the next wondering how I was going to tell everyone if it came back positive.

9:15 on the nose on Friday June 7th. The Dr called me and said that my path report had him grinning from ear to ear. It was CLEAR!!!! whahoo!!!!!! He and I both had this sinking feeling it was going to come back positive, so this was the most wonderful news ever!!!!!!!!!

I spent that afternoon running games at Will's school carnival and then had 3 close friends come over and we celebrated my good news with some wine.

I felt sore and bruised for a good week and a half after. I started running again that Monday and that worked, but was a tad painful. So, mostly I have recovered except a little scarring from where the Dr. made incisions. The mental and emotional wounds though, are still here and I think I got so freaked out that it's taking me a while to work through everything.

Getting Things into Perspective

I am a gym rat, I'll be the first to admit. I've relaxed in the last year or so, but I am still fairly diligent about getting there at least 5 times a week. My diet is good 80% of the time, I call this all a win.

Until, I got a call yesterday. My mom had breast cancer 3 years ago. Her mom also had it when I was a kid. So, with the family history, once I hit 35 I had to start having preventative mammograms. I went in on this past Tuesday for my 2nd one. In reality, they're not that bad. Uncomfortable, yes, but its worth it to make sure you're healthy.

Last year I remember feeling a little anxious, but mostly because I didn't know what to expect. I got my letter of clearance the next day. This time, I felt really anxious, almost like White Coat syndrom that makes your blood pressure go up. not even 24 hours later, I got a call from the nurse. The left side is looking funny, so we need to take more pictures and do an ultra sound. Try not to freak out, its just precautionary.

Yeah, try as I might, this has scared the hell out of me. I keep thinking abuot my son growing up without his mom. How would he remember me? As a grouchy mom who yells alot? As a fun mom who took him places and was always at his sports and scouts? How would my friends remember me? It was so awful..... you really can not jump the gun. You have to try and breathe deep.

But, I decided I needed to forego the gym last night and get my kid right from school. Hug him. Love him. Kiss him. and take him to the park. I have to go in in an hour for my follow up. I am not going to lie. I feel sick and am shaking with nerves...... Stay tuned. I hope to come back with good news!

My Story

WOW! I haven't written in several months! Currently, I just finished another bootcamp session in which I was down another 4lbs and a bunch of inches. I like that!

I decided it was time to relive my story. I didn't get this fitness bug from no where, ya know?

As a kid I was slender. NEVER athletic. I stayed slim simply by breathing. Ahhh the good old days. Shortly after that monumental 21st birthday I started packing on the lbs. We're talking going from 119 lbs to 180lbs. In a matter of months. While I was out having fun all the time, it was also a very sad time. I hated seeing my double chin when I looked in the mirror. I hated wearing shorts and tank tops because my arms and legs got huge. I put on the weight so quickly, that I also started getting terrible heart burn and other health issues I'd never dealt with before. I felt puffy and uncomfortable all the time. And lets not mention all the cute clothes I had that didn't fit anymore.

My life was massive chaos. I was unhappy, partying a lot, making bad decisions..... (like loads of cheeseburgers and mac n cheese daily at bartime) In 2001, I made the decision to leave the town I had been living in for several years. A town I loved and was going to miss terribly. My friends I would miss terribly. Having my family 30 minutes away, I would also miss terribly. But I knew that all around I needed to make changes. I took a job in a very small town about an hour and a half from where I lived. I moved in with a guy I'd been dating just a short time. He worked funny hours. I knew no one. I took this as a chance to pop in some of my old workout videos I'd kept for years. Yes, people, I am talking about a Cher dancercise video, and 2 Cindy Crawford videos (Note: years later, I would trade in the Cindy VHS for DVDs. I still do these on occasion. That's how much I love these videos!) I also took this as an opportunity to explore my new dwelings. I went power walking most days.

Eventually, I met a nice group of people at work. I also ditched the boyfriend, and moved out on my own. A few of my new friends walked everynight, so I invited myself to join them. And when summer turned to winter, we got memberships at a gym, but only used the cardio equiptment. But, in a matter of months, I'd dropped 30 lbs! I also stopped eating most fast food, and really watching my calories. Dropping 30 lbs felt wonderful! I was back into a size 10 and feeling so much better about myself.

Around this same time, I'd met someone who lived 3 hours away and I knew the relationship was going places. I finally felt like I was in a good place, both mentally and physically. I could give so much more to this relationship. I took a gamble and applied for a transfer within my company. And it worked! I moved 3 hours away where I did know at least 2 other people (long time friends) and the guy I was dating. Once I got here, I knew how to keep my weight loss going. We walked daily. Several miles. It was so wonderful! Eventually, we moved into a condo that had a fitness club. There I discovered lifting weights. I'd started subscribing to fitness mags, and I'd tear out the workouts I liked and take them with. I also started running. I did the couch to 5k program and couldn't believe the difference in how I felt. I continued to work on my diet, but lets be real. I still loved my beer, and tacos. So, I tried to be good 80% of the time and splurge on the weekends. Eventually, I was at a plateau. I joined Weight Watchers at work and dropped 20 more lbs. I had more muscle than I knew what to do with. And I LOVED it! I was in a size of clothing I never thought possible, even at my tinest before. And most importantly I felt good. I'd made lots of positive changes, I'd also just gotten married (to the guy who lived 3 hours away). When we went to Vegas for our first anniversary, you bet your bottom dollar I rocked that bikini!

My weight gain/losses are evolving. When I became pregnant with my son I went hog wild and gained almost 60 lbs (BACK!) I was on bedrest because I'd gained so much weight that my bloodpressure was all over the place. Bed rest is no fun. I worked out until my doc put me on modified bed rest and I wasn't allowed to go to the gym (yeah, I worked out, but I also ate for 25). For someone who had been active prior to bed  rest, having to lay there and be bored and watch more reruns of Full House and 90210 than anyone ever should, I felt like I was going out of my mind! Bored, and lazy. I couldn't even go to the library to get a stack of books to read. My husband had to get them. Ugh.

Alas, a wonderful little boy was born and it was all worth it. I peeled that weight off as soon as I could. And there have been changes to my body. There have been ups and downs. It's a never ending journey. I feel mad that I had to take it in the first place, but at the same time I've come so far and learned what's health and what's not. I've learned about balance and deprivation. I've become a healthy role model for my son. and I think, over all, that's right up there with being healthy, myself.

Today is looking up

For starters, my tail bone feels so much better. I have been moving up and down the stairs with only minimal fears of falling.

I worked out after work. Will and I have been shut in's since last Wed, with the exception of his dr appt friday and me going to hang out with my music friends and watch a show Fri night. Oh, and I did take a class on Sunday. Regardless, we're usually out and about way more. Will is fully recovered and needed to burn some energy. We went to tthe gym. I did a 30 minute bike ride on the recumbent bike and lifted weights. Will went to the kid gym and horsed around.

Today, we got a new water heater. Which means HOT WATER! I can shower at home. We can do laundy and wash dishes!!! I tried to take a whore's bath in the sink yesterday, kind of. I tried to wash my hair and the water was so cold it gave me a headache.

Today, life feels much better. Much more back to normal.

I have bootcamp tonight. I can't wait. Exercise is one thing that keeps me sane! Missing more than half my week's workouts over the last week was not good. So, I am just keeping my head up and forging ahead.

Well, I was on track.

Here's the problem with starting the new year off fresh and getting my 5 days a week workouts in: THE FLU HITS. and not me. but my son. So, I am home taking care of him. Brett is working. I can't escape to the gym for my normal workouts, but I am also not the one who is sick. So I sit around and snack. And tomorrow is my weigh in for bootcamp. I'd wanted to be down about 5 more lbs from where we left off and now I doubt that's happened.

And to make matters worse, it's been about the shittiest of shitty weekends. Will is sick, but that's not the worst of it. The worst is they put him on Tamiflu and he reacted terribly to it. Yesterday he was 95% improved, no symptoms in over 24 hours. So I call the useless nurse advisor line and ask if I can stop this as it's making him worse when he is clearly better. She got all high and mighty with me, talking me in circles about having it flavored so the taste won't bother him. OK THAT IS NOT MY QUESTION OR PROBLEM! He took it down, the problem is his body totally rejected it and he'd throw it back up. So he wasn't getting any of the benefits anyway. This woman had me on the phone for 35 minutes and then her advice was a hostile, well you just have to do what you're most comfortable with. I said, well I don't know what that is. That's why I am calling you for answers. She launched into this speech about the taste again. OK, I am not talking about the taste! I finally just said, I am hanging up with you now. I am calling my mom who is a nurse and she can probably give me more logical advice. Thank you. Nightmare 1.

Nightmare 2. The water heater decided to end its life and flood the basement on Sat. Not terribly, but enough that it was annoying. So, Brett went to Sears (put on your Sunday best, kids. We're going to Sears!) and got us a new one. Under the guarentee it would be here, installed today. Yeah. That guarentee fell through because whoever they contracted it out to had a death in the family and can't do it until tomorrow. So then it becomes OUR responsibility to call and find someone?? what shit is that!!! Anywho.... I was able to deal. Until this morning....

Nightmare 3: Mind you we have not had any hot water since Saturday night. The vomiting has stopped and that laundry was all done. Then this morning, I was carrying my contacts to the bathroom downstairs that has running (even if its cold) water, and I could brush my teeth and put my eyes on. Yeah. I fell down the entire flight of stairs. My tailbone and my head hurt so badly right now, all I want to do is crawl back into bed and cry. Or take a nice hot bath and let calgon take me away. BUT I can't even take a normal shower! Oh no. It's a whores bath in the sink today. SEXY!

So, I am really hoping I can get a workout in this evening and not be as huge as I feel for tomorrow's weigh in.

That's my sob story for the weekend.

**** AND NOW I CAN'T UPLOAD PICTURES. IF ITS NOT ONE THING ITS ANOTHER***

It's a new year!

So, a brief recap of our Christmas: It was wonderful! Part of the reason I haven't blogged in a month is that I have been overwhelmed with what pictures to post and what stories to share about Christmas. I decided to scrap all that and just sum it up and then start with where I am today, on Jan 10th, 2013

Christmas was so great. We had a quiet day at home. In the afternoon Brett's parents, siblings and our friend and her son came to join us. We had more presents and food and a lovely time.

New Years: AWESOME. We went bowling with another family that we've become good friends with. It was such a blast. We bowled and then went for ice cream. I don't even try to stay up until midnight anymore. Maybe next year :)

TODAY:

The past few weeks, I've done lots of reflecting about my "getting fit" journey. I am on the right track. I've pushed past 3 miles in my runs and am slowly working up to 4 miles. I have understood that I really need to get my diet in line in order to really start shedding some lbs. I think by the end of my last boot camp, I kind of had it figured out, and now I am going full force. I have never been one to "eat clean." I like to eat healty: I have a bowl of cereal (something like Special K or Wheaties), or granola and yogurt for breakfast. For lunch I have a salad: greens, a piece of boiled chicken, shredded, assorted veggies and some italian dressing. If I am still hungry after that, a piece of cheese. For my dinner, I am eating the same thing as my family. I refuse to cook 2 meals. I take the recipy, and on the advice of another blogger, I skinny them up: low sugars, low calorie, low fat. Things like that. The past 2 weeks have proven successful.

I missed the first night of bootcamp on Tuesday. I had to go get a filling refilled at the dentist. Boo hoo. I much rather would have been getting my ass handed to me in bootcamp then a tooth drilled. But I am ready to go for next week.

Each workout is trial and error. I am still trying to find what works the best for me, now, at this age and in the shape that I am in. What worked for me 5 or 10 years ago isn't now, so I am making the necessary changes.

At the gym I have an hour 3 days a week, a little longer on the weekends if I get up early and go. I have a hard time sacrificing family time, so I sneak it in where I can. I know for sure that I want to start getting in 35-40 minutes of cardio, but then that leaves me with 20 minutes for weights. Both are equally important. So, I juggle and find the balance. 35 minutes of cardio, 30 min of weight? a long run 1 day a week? 40 minutes cardio 20 minutes abs? Its all a process. And I am grateful to the blogging community because I have found a handful of very useful blogs that are encouraging, and have workouts already written out. I sure take them and use them :)

Goals for 2013:

I want to get in half marathon shape, I don't know if I want to pay and run one. I am feeling a little anti-organized running right now, but that could change.
I have 25 lbs to drop, and I'd love to do it by my birthday.
Blog more.
Lotsa family and fun time.
Oh, and.... school....

Until next time :)

This week's workouts

I am back in the game after some bad foot pain, possibly tied to a back injury from last year, as well as my trip to AZ.

I have been thinking about how I can change things up in order to drop some more LBS. I have not heard what the finale from the bootcamp is, but I know I dropped 5 lbs and inches. I am very happy with that, but need to do more. So, I realized that for several years I've been running the same 3 miles on the treadmill and then lifting weights. Lifting is important, as it will help you build muscle and shrink more, but my body is clearly in a plateau that has been caused by the same routine. Sure, I switch up what I do for weights, but it needs to be more.

This week, I ran 3.5 miles, and 3.2 miles respectivly. One problem I have is that at 3 miles on the treadmill, I hit a wall. I am working to get past that and tomorrow plan on running 4 miles.

While I am on a break from bootcamp, I am doing a lot of HIIT training, or High Intensitity Interval Training, and body weight stuff, giving myself a little break from the heavy weights.

Here are 2 workouts I stumbled across that I am going to do again this weekend, one on Saturday and 1 on Sunday along with an attempted 4 mile tredmill run both days.

This is a lower body workout that is a killer.

100 jumping jacks (I broke it up into 50 2x as my foot was hurting)
walking lunges, hands behind head deep lunges. I did 14 1 way and 14 the other way
10 jump lunges
side lunges, 20 total
20 mountain climbers
**repeat 2 times**
15 ballet lunges
15 calf raises; toes forward
15 calf raises heels together
15 calf raises toes together
15 prisoner squats
calf raise series
curtsey lunges
calf raise series
** repeat 2 times**

Throw in a little ab work
Side plank, 30 seconds per side
front plank 1 min
star fish for 30

The other one is a full body workout that is HARD. I am still feeling pain in my lats from this.

10 1-legged squats per side. Hold onto a body bar or pole or something. Squat as low as possible
20 body weight squats
20 walking lunges
20 plyo step jumps
10 pull ups- NOT on the assist pull up machine.
10 dips, NOT with the assist
10 chin ups NOT with the assist
10 pushups
30 second plank

O.M.G! My goal is to perfect pullups, chin ups and dips. I did the 10 dips but they were weak and tiny.

Ok, that's all I have for now. I hope to get my trip to Arizona done soon!

Pie Throwing FUN

I am Will's den leader for Cub Scouts, along with my good friend Maria. At our last pack meeting, the boys were all awarded either 1 or 2 pies to throw at the leaders depending on how much they'd raised in fundraisers.

Maria and I were lucky enough to be up first to get slammed with pies. Some of those boys had excellent aim and arms too! Including my own kid who got me square in the face.