WARNING....you may get offended and I apologize in advance...

At the risk of sounding a bit like a 'snob', when I envision workout attire or articles of clothing that might commonly be found at a gym or fitness center, cut off Daisy-Duke jean shorts is not exactly what pops into my mind. However, while logging my time on the various cardio machines tonight, I enjoyed some people watching and some interesting choices of wardrobe. Two pairs of cut-off jeans shorts quickly caught my eye, as I scanned the crowd and analyzed the motley crew of individuals who had descended upon the gym. There was also a pink halter top, covered up by a black spaghetti strap tank....that actually accompanied one of the pairs of jean shorts. There was also a black tank top with sequin sparkles, which appeared to be very pretty, but did seem a bit out of place amongst the traditional t-shirts with athletic shorts or yoga pants.

It is also interesting to watch the interactions between the fitness center patrons. Here are just a few of the categories that I feel worth mentioning:

1. Some are serious! They are focusing on their workouts! Headbands, Towels, and Bottles of Water!
2. Others are kinda focused, yet appear to not really be putting in sort of real effort into their workout. However, they will make sure to tell their friends that 'they' went to the gym.
3. Then you have the social bugs...who are there to flirt with the Jersey Shore muscle heads and don't actually break a sweat. The one girl I 'watched' was on the elliptical for about 15 minutes. Then she spent the rest of her 45 minutes walking around, laughing, smiling, giggling, flirting, and wasting time.
4. Now, the ladies in the Zumba room were ROCKIN! Those ladies mean business!!! I would not want to mess with them or challenge them to any sort of cardio! They would salsa all over my arse!
5. I can't forget the testosterone driven males who flock around the free weights and challenge each other to see who can the lift the most weight with their pinky toe.

Then there is little ole me.....flitting from treadmill, to elliptical, and finally to the stationary bike...enjoying some heart pumping interval cardio, while I listen to my hip-hop music on my hot pink Zune MP3 player. I smile and wave to the people I know....all the while, wondering if my panty lines are showing and who will be talking about me on the Internet. KARMA!

Spectacular Sunday!!!

Let the Sun-Shine! What a beautiful day! It started out overcast, but once the sun chased away all of the clouds, it was a beautiful day in Kansas. As I was headed out to the gym, I decided to log my exercise minutes outside, rather than on a treadmill. Not sure how far I went, but I took a long, brisk walk and stayed gone about 50 minutes. The north wind was a little cool, but I did not care! I mainly just walked, but I did throw in a few bursts of jogging. Almost immediately, my shins began to hurt, so I don't think I have the best shoes for outdoor running. The concrete is not as forgiving as the treadmill. I will need to really start training more outside if I am going to run a 5K by this summer.

I have also started the journey to eliminate diet pop from my diet. I am going to reduce my intake slowly, as I know I cannot handle cold-turkey. I am kinda embarrassed to tell how many diet sodas I normally drink in a day....but it is between 5 and 6. Today, I have had two. Tomorrow at work will be the most difficult, but I know that I am stronger than the addiction. Part of my addiction is the caffeine....but another part is the fizz. I love fizzy drinks! I love the burn of the pop as hits my tongue and travels down my throat. I also enjoy the taste! For years, I only drank Coca-Cola. When I first did WW several years ago, I phased into diet soda...which was a HUGE transition. But now, I am hoping I can kick the habit for good. I have substituted with LOTS of water, green tea, and V8 V-Fusion.

After I conquer the diet soda battle....next will be to eliminate sugar and processed foods from my diet. This will be a little more difficult, but I am slowly starting that now as well. Today, I have only had 2 mini Twix bars! Everything else today has been fresh fruits, veggies, proteins, and grains. Now, I am not baking my own bread, but I am making healthy choices! I am not that crazy!

This blog will be my medium for venting as I reduce and eliminate these crazy foods from my diet and my lifestyle. I hope I don't go insane during the process! THANK U for your support!

Super Saturday Workout!!!

Have you ever experienced one of those workouts that left you feeling totally exhausted, yet totally energized???? You say to yourself..."Now THAT was a workout". I love it when I push myself hard enough to really feel as if I am making a difference! Today I logged 90 minutes at the gym. I spent the first hour on the treadmill. I did 30 minutes of interval running, increasing/decreasing both speed and incline levels. Next, I did the ladder incline routine at a speed of 4. By the end of my hour of cardio, my face was beet red and I was drenched; but I felt amazing. I used the next 30 minutes to do stretching and ab work. Yesterday was my strength training, so I gave my muscles a break from pumping iron....but tomorrow I will focus on toning.

Today, we are celebrating the Easter holiday with my family. I am looking forward to the children playing and to some good, old fashioned, comfort food! Luckily, I burned over 500 calories on the treadmill, so I won't feel as guilty indulging tonight.

Beginning April 5th, I am going to start reducing and eliminating processed sugar from my diet. I will still eat fruits, veggies, and whole grains that may have natural sugars; but I am going to give up my candy, cookies, ice cream, blah blah blah habits. I continue to have this layer of fat around my mid-section and hips that I just can't seem to shed. I KNOW that my diet is contributing those love handles and I hate them. After I conquer my sugar addiction....next will be my addiction to diet soda! One thing at a time for now!

By the way...stepped on the scales today. Really not sure why....but it was pretty much what I expected. The same normal number appeared on the screen. It is like my body's way of saying - "This is how much I am supposed to weigh". My clothing is fitting much better, so I know that I am making progress. For now, I am going to bury the scale until I have been able to resist sugar for a while!

Some Good Advice!

Here are a few good good distractions to take your mind off food cravings for high fat foods. Number 6 would be high on my husband's list.....

1.Take a walk.
2. Splash cool water on your face.
3. Take a bath.
4. Go to a movie.
5. Take a nap.
6. Have sex.
7. Meditate.
8. Eat some fruit.
9. Call a friend.
10. Walk up a few flights of stairs.

http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/weight/weight_imagery-and-visualization.htm

Missing In Action!!!

I apologize right now for my absence in my blog posts. I got swept away with Spring Break activities and blogging was just not high on my priorities. I was able to squeeze in some amazing workouts last week. For Walk Kansas, I logged a total of 615 minutes and 50 servings of fruit and veggies.

I started my week out really strong with some super long trips to the gym. I averaged 1 1/2 hours for several days in a row. As I got closer to the weekend, my schedule filled up quickly. I did not go to the gym Friday, Saturday or Sunday...BUT, I logged a ton of walking minutes those days, outside on Thursday and indoors on Friday.

My food consumption was kinda like my workouts! Earlier in the week I was on task...eating healthy meals and snacks. However, by the time Friday rolled around, I was outta control and binged that night while watching New Moon. My poor food choices and binging continued into Saturday. By Sunday, I was too bloated to even think about eating, so I am now back to my normal routine....aside from the Robin Eggs I indulged in yesterday! (hehehe) Easter Candy is my all time favorite!!!

This week, I have been to the gym on Monday and Tuesday. Today I did a 20-minute glute-sculpting treadmill routine that really got my heart pumping. Afterwards, I logged more time on the Elliptical, but I did not really push myself. My legs were too sore from the treadmill. I wrapped up my workout with some abdominal work. The weather is gorgeous outside, so I really hope to get outside and take advantage with a LONG walk.

I do have one success to share today! About a month ago, I purchased a pair of work slacks. When I bought them, they were almost too tight. Today, they are almost too big! They are loose around my waist, hips and booty. I also feel as if the crotch is hanging half way down to my knees. I have NOT stepped on the scale in several weeks. Honestly, I don't really care what it has to say! If my clothes are fitting better and I have more energy and feel better....that is enough for me!!!

This is how I "roll"

Thursday will be an adventure, as I plan on taking both of my youngest kiddos to Rollers for some skating action! I have decided that I want to make the most out of this trip, so I am going to skate along with the kiddos! If I am going to be there for two hours, I mine as well take advantage of the opportunity to exercise. Now, I am a little nervous....the last time I was on roller skates was New Year's Eve 2002! TJ and I took Cass skating and I was pregnant with Seth. I am pretty sure that I was tripped, but I ended the night early by falling and catching myself with my knee. For MONTHS, my knee hurt. When I would kneel to scrub the bathtub, it was painful. I have since recovered from this injury, but I am tempted to wear protective gear tomorrow, just to avoid any chances of a repeat. I have no doubt that I will make the best of this opportunity to relive my middle school days. Watch for pictures tomorrow.....if I can walk!!!

Luck of the Irish OR whatever that means!

Don't worry, I have not forgotten about the Honeymoon from Hell post...I have just been busy. However, I wanted to give an update of my workout progress and almost healthy eating habits.....

Today I logged 90 minutes at the gym. I warmed up on the treadmill for 20. I then did a long circuit of weight machines, free weights, and ab work. After that, I finished up with 30 minutes on the stationary bike. This was basically mindless burning of calories, as I enjoyed reading the People magazine and tuned out everyone in the gym!

Food wise, I am still holding strong with lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. I have had a few slips with some ice cream and Easter candy. (Darn Mini Robin Eggs) I also had Chinese for lunch today, so that fried rice and egg roll were not the best choices. But I did have lean chicken and veggies...it balanced out nicely. Not sure what I am fixing the family for dinner, but I will be having a salad and fruit. I am kinda feeling gross at the moment!

Tonight, I plan to jump on the Leg Magic machine and introduce that back into my routine! I desperately want to tone up my legs and I know that machine is the trick! Today, I was able to slip into a pair of jeans that I have not worn in a while. This little success is the motivation boost I need to really get serious. I know what I need to do....now I just need to follow through!

Happy Anniversary to my Husband

Eight years ago today, my family grew by two feet. TJ and I were married on Saturday, March 16, 2002 at the Saffordville United Methodist Church in Saffordville, Kansas. We had a super small wedding. Guests included immediate family, my grandparents and the Tubach Family, who were like my second family, so it only felt right. TJ, Cass and I walked down the aisle as a family. We stood on the stage as a family and took those sacred vows! During the unity candle, we all three participated. Nothing Fancy ~ just a small ceremony because two people fell in love.

Afterwards, the wedding party and guests were treated to lunch at the Grand Central Hotel in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. We also enjoyed wedding cake, courtesy of Cathy Jones!

The next day, the couple embarked on what was later to be known as the "Honeymoon from Hell"........to be continued.......

What's in YOUR body???

Let's face it...we ALL want to look good and feel comfortable in a bathing suit. Granted, if today's swimming suits looked anything like those in this picture, NO ONE would care what their body looked like. Unfortunately, these are not in style and we are left with limited selections when it comes to styles of suits that actually make us look (and feel) thin.

I am going to visit a little about food today! Not sure which episode it was, but Alexis from the Real Housewives of Orange County said that our bodies come from 60% of what we eat and 40% of exercise. That statement was HUGE for me! I had never really heard it in those terms, but I totally believed her. I mean, she is HOT....so she must know what she is talking about.

Today, a friend asked me if I were following the Weight Watchers plan for my eating. I was honest and said no. Let me preface this by saying that I totally support the Weight Watchers plan and I know from experience that it can work. My only reason for not doing it right now is that I don't have a membership, plus I don't enjoy tracking points. But here is WHAT I am doing: eating healthy, watching my portions, making smart choices, eating MORE fruits, veggies, and whole grains, limiting my indulgences.

I stop and think....is this good for me? What benefit is this to my body?

Okay, so now I am going to get gross, so if you have a weak stomach or take offense to people talking about poop, I suggest that you stop reading!!! Here it goes...I have battled with IBS for most of my adult life. For those of you who don't know what IBS is, it is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. My digestive tract goes between diarrhea and constipation. There has rarely been a time that I have been 'normal'. I have been to numerous doctors and received tons of advice. In recent years, my body has been more constipated than the other. This was something new for me, because during my twenties, I spent many a bathroom trip with 'gizzard cancer' a/k/a diarrhea. This was my weight loss program. If I felt sluggish, I knew what my trigger foods were and I would eat them. However, after turning 30, my body turned a corner the opposite directions. I have tried Miralax, Senna, Benefiber, and other OTC laxatives. They might work for a short time, but then by body gets used to them and I have to take more and more. THIS is not healthy or how my body is supposed to work. I do not want to become addicted to laxatives just to take a pooh!

HOWEVER, since starting Walk Kansas on March 7th....I have increased my fruits, veggies, and whole grains. I have reduced the amount the processed foods I have eaten, and I am drinking LOTS more water. I have also increased my daily exercise routine. With this change in my diet, I have not had to take a single laxative! I have had normal and regular bathroom visits! It is amazing how much better my digestive system feels.

This revelation has lead me to honestly look at my eating habits. I always thought that I ate fairly healthy. In reality, I ate like crap! I would start out my day with a healthy breakfast and even a healthy mid-morning snack. By lunch, I would reach for a processed diet meal and pair it up with a salad. However, this would never fill me up, so I would then snack on things like cookies, candy, chips, etc. By the evening, I would fix supper and eat too much. I would also have a bedtime snack...sometimes ice cream, pudding, popcorn, etc. I would also deal with stress by eating! Usually I would reach for chocolate or pop. These are my two vices when I am battling a difficult day.

My entire mindset has changed since starting Walk Kansas and since I have been feeling much better! It was like a light bulb went off in my brain! What I don't get, is WHY have I been in denial for so long? Eating healthy is not difficult and it actually tastes pretty darn good! Granted, it does take a little extra planning, but it is totally worth it.

My goal is to eat fresh fruits and veggies when at all possible. Frozen will be my next choice. Whole grains, like wheat bread, brown rice, and wheat pasta. Low Fat Dairy such as yogurt and skim milk in my smoothies. Fresh, low fat protein. This is going to include chicken, fish, pork and lean ground beef. Now, am I going to allow myself that occasional splurge???? Hell Yes! But I am not going to over indulge. It is all about BALANCE! Too much of one thing is not good! We need to have small amounts of many things. This advice is good for your eating habits, as well as in your life in general. I hope you all can strive to find that healthy balance in your lives!!!

Spring Break Spirit Lifter

We started out our spring break by sleeping in later than normal and then hitting the gym by 8:30 a.m. The kids had fun running around the basketball court at Emporia Fitness. I logged in 90 minutes of exercise : Treadmill Interval Running, Weight Machines, Free Weights, Abs, and then finished up on the Stair Master. For me, it was a GREAT workout for a Monday Morning! I could handle this everyday! We came home and made some healthy and refreshing fruit smoothies! Now time to clean the house!

Time is ticking away as I sit in front of the computer, so I am going to get busy around the house! I will post later about my food journal and anything else funny that my kids come up with today! It should be an interesting week!

Sunday "Sweat" Fest

Today was my first day back to the gym since either Monday or Tuesday of last week. Most of my exercise last week came from low impact walking. I am starting to feel back to normal, so I ventured to the gym today. After chatting with Heather Lake, one of the participant's in the Gazette's Get Fit Challenge, I had a new treadmill workout that I wanted to attempt. It was an awesome, heart pumping, sweat-fest and it will be added into my weekly routine! You know it is a good workout when you can ring out your sports bra afterwards!



Incline Treadmill Workout:



5 minute warm up at a speed of 3.0 on incline level 1. (I walked at 3.7 speed for entire time) After the warm up, you increase the incline by 1 level. Walk for a minute and then increase the incline again by 1 level. The treadmill can go increase at .5 increments, but you actually go up 1 whole level each minute. You go all the way up to an incline of 15, walking a minute each level. After 15, I then lowered the incline by 1 level each minute, until I was back to 1. When I hit level 1, I did a 5 minute cool down. It was a total of 38 minutes ~ 300 calories burned ~ 2.3 miles. If you think you cannot get a great workout on the treadmill, try this routine! It was AMAZING! At about Level 7 or 8, I realized it was going to get tough. From level 10 through 15, I had to hold onto treadmill to avoid falling backwards. At one point I felt the urge to increase the speed, but I felt as if I needed to conservative and not be a hero on my first day back. Seriously, this workout rocked!



After the treadmill, I jumped on the elliptical trainer for 22 minutes, as I wanted to log in 60 minutes of exercise. For that 22 minutes, I burned 200 calories ~ 2.15 miles. I then went to the Ab Coaster and did 50 reps.



For strength training, I pushed around the large grocery cart at Wal-mart...you know the kind that has the seats in the front for two children. I had Karah and Seth with me, so it added at least 60 pounds of resistance. Add in a case of pop, bottled water, bottled tea, and 2 gallons of milk, plus all of the other groceries...it was one heck of an overall body workout just maneuvering through Wal-mart and trying not to take out an end cap or an old lady driving one of those electric carts. It was comparable to driving a semi! I worked up a sweat by the time I made it to the checkout.



So far I have had a great food day and hope to continue through tonight and into next week. Last week I logged 310 exercise minutes, 57 fruit/veggies, and 6 days worth of whole grains. Not too bad of a first week in the Walk Kansas Challenge, considering I was sick with strep for most of the week.

"Live and Let Diet" by Alton Brown - MUST SEE

I have been a HUGE fan of the Food Network TV Star Alton Brown for many years! So much, that one of my all time favorite Christmas Presents I have ever received is an autographed cookbook that my fabulous gal-pal Monica gave me a few years back. (The cookbook takes a close to second to TJ telling me he loved me for the first time on Christmas Morning 2000.) At any rate, last night while laying in bed nursing my sick body, I stumbled upon a fabulous episode of Good Eats. It was titled "Live and Let Diet". Alton Brown gets personal as he shares with the world how he dropped 50 pounds in 9-months by eating healthy. This episode was wonderful and I felt compelled to share it with my blogging friends. Whether you are trying to lose weight or just want to improve your eating habits, Alton gives you some VERY good advice on what to eat and even shares a few recipes with you. I am a huge believer that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Alton shares a recipe for a fabulous fruit smoothie - which I actually made today for myself. (3 fruit servings for Walk Kansas Challenge as well) I have posted the three different YouTube links so you can watch the entire episode. If you have about 20 minutes to spare, it is totally worth your time to check out these links!!!

Live and Let Diet - Part One

Live and Let Diet - Part Two

Live and Let Diet - Part Three

Funky Friday, plus SUSHI.....hmmmmm

It has been a few days since I last posted! Honestly, I have not had anything as funny and embarrassing as my 'light bladder leakage' story in the last few days, so I have been absent.

I have NOT been to the gym to work out since Monday. I have done some walking to log my daily 30 minutes, but nothing strenuous. I am still battling the 'crud' and pretty much feel like a walking zombie most days. I have done very well with my fruits/veggie/whole grain consumption, so I am proud of myself for that dedication.

Speaking of the 'crud'....I went back to the doctor again today. This makes visit #3 within the last 8 days! I am still coughing and having severe throat pain. Today she said it looked as if I was growing cauliflower in both of my tonsils. (I know....GROSS) She has started me on a new antibiotic, that is in a different drug family from my last prescription. She also told me to gargle with Listerine. Yeah....not sure that is going to happen! I can handle salt water and doing a sinus rinse, but I am pretty sure that Listerine would make me vomit. She also recommended that I have my tonsils removed. I am scheduled to see the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor next week, so we will see how that goes! I have heard that tonsillectomy in adults is very painful. I do have chronic sinus and allergy issues...so I am hopeful that the ENT doctor will offer me some helpful recommendations and guidance.

I almost forgot....I had sushi today for the FIRST TIME EVER! I know, I have lead a sheltered life. Honestly, I always thought that sushi meant raw fish. That always turned me off and I shied away. However, after visiting with several friends and then being invited to lunch at the sushi restaurant, I decided to check out the rave. Here is my official review of my experience:

First of all, the restaurant had a distinct aroma. Not that it was bad, but it was different and nothing like the fragrant scents that fill my favorite Chinese restaurant. The table was properly dressed with four round sushi plates, four sauce dishes, and four sets of chop sticks. I followed along with another patron and ordered the hot tea. I sat patiently and read over the menu, all the while taking in the atmosphere. My friends slowly arrived and they all chattered about what kind of sushi they loved the best. My tea arrived and I added a packet of sweetener. I could not find a spoon to stir in the much needed pink packet of sweetness, so I unwrapped my chop sticks and used those. I noticed that the lovely Japanese waitress was watching me, and my lack of sushi etiquette was amusing to her! We ooh and ahh'd over the plate that was delivered to the table next to us. I pretended to know what the heck they were talking about, but I pretty much felt like Joey from Friend's, just nodding and smiling and laughing as the others would laugh. After much thought and some wonderful guidance from the ladies, I ordered the house salad with ginger dressing and a simple cucumber-avocado roll. My salad arrived first and it was super yummy! The dressing was not very pretty, but it was super yummy! Slowly, our sushi rolls arrived. (Not all at the same time either....so what is the eating etiquette on that???) One of the more experienced sushi eaters at my table was using her chop sticks like she had been born with them in her hands. Another friend awkwardly used the chop sticks, all of the while giggling. The third gal just picked up her sushi with her fingers and enjoyed it that way. My salad was now finished, so there was no more delaying of the sushi eating. Now, since I had a fork from my salad, I attempted to use my fork to pick up a piece of my cucumber-avocado roll....yeah, did not work very well at all. So, I ended up using my fingers and popping that puppy into my mouth. HOLY COW is the best way to describe the experience. There was sticky rice, some weird seaweed paper, and some veggies...all wrapped into a tidy little roll that looked much better than it tasted. It was NOT what I had expected. I tried to control my facial expressions, but I fear that my nonverbal communication said more than I ever would have dared say. Now, the other girls were all dipping their pieces into soy sauce, so I thought, what the heck. It can't get much worse than it already is, so just dip and get on with it. I filled my little sauce dish with some soy sauce and attempted for a second time to pick up my piece of sushi with my fork. Again, it did not work. So, I took my previously used tea-stirring chop sticks and decided to go for it. I had nothing to lose! Guess what...I was actually able to pick up a piece of sushi, dip it into the soy sauce, and get it into my mouth! This time...it was MUCH better. The soy sauce was the magic. I enjoyed yet another piece and watched as my lunch mates mixed something green into their sauce dishes. I assumed it was guacamole, which seemed odd since we were in a Japanese restaurant and not Mexican, but whatever. I finally asked what it was and they told me it was Wasabi, a/k/a Japanese horseradish. They said it was spicy, but good. I took a small amount and blended it into my soy sauce and then dipped my fourth piece of sushi. This was not so pleasant; so I decided that I did not like Wasabi. I had four pieces left, so I drizzled the remaining pieces with soy sauce and enjoyed my fifth piece. We chattered about the differences between raw sushi, vegetable sushi, and sushi with cooked meat. I decided that I would like to try sushi with cooked shrimp. One gal at my table offered me a piece of her order, which had spicy tuna, veggies, and some tempura 'stuff' in it. I really enjoyed this piece and decided that if I ever do attempt sushi again, it will definitely have some cooked meat. We wrapped up our lunch and two of the ladies took the leftovers with them. I had three pieces left, so I sent them on their way to be enjoyed later by someone who would appreciate them. For dessert, I enjoyed some Whoppers Robin Eggs. You can take the girl outta the country....but not the country outta the girl. All in all, I am very pleased that I had this life experience of sushi! My only regret is that I did not try the miso soup.

You only get one ride on this carousel of life. Enjoy every moment!

Dance when the music plays! Sing loudly in the car!

Embrace the joys that surround you daily!

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?!?!

Wow...it has been a whirlwind of a Monday! My day began around 1:30 a.m. when toddler woke me up because she had gone 'potty'. Now, this is a good thing! We are fully potty trained, aside from bedtime...but it looks as if she is waking up in the middle of the night when she needs to go. This is exciting and I am hoping this means I will NEVER have to buy another package of pull-ups ever again! Well, never say never....but you get what I mean!

After getting toddler settled back into bed, I desperately tried to fall back asleep. This was a challenge, as I was coughing NON-STOP the moment I tried to lay my head on the pillow. I spent the majority of my night propped up on the couch, trying to sleep between random coughing attacks.

At 4:55 a.m. the alarm on my cell phone rang, as it was time to get up and head to the gym. Slowly, I rose...changed clothes...put on my shoes...and headed out the door! I enjoyed 35 minutes on the treadmill with interval walking/running. Afterwards, I finished off with 10 minutes of ab related exercises.

Back home to get ready for work! Blah! Blah! Blah! While in class this morning, I had the worst coughing attack to date. I tried to calm it down with water, but ended up stumbling to the front office to beg for a peppermint candy. People were throwing cough lozenges at me and giving me that 'concerned' look as the stumbled to the restroom. (you know that one where they are secretly waiting until you leave the room so they can spray everything down with Lysol) Now let's just say...coughing with a semi-full bladder can be dangerous! Santa may be adding Poise Pads to my stocking next Christmas! It was NOT a pleasant experience, but hilarious none the less! In my defense, "Light Bladder Leaks affect millions of women." If you cannot laugh at yourself...then you are taking yourself WAY too seriously!!!

I resumed my place in the classroom and eventually made it back to my cubicle for some alone time, lunch, and more coughing. I finished out my workday by dumping Bare Minerals down the front of my red jacket right before attending the board of trustees meeting. Luckily...it all 'buffed' away just in time.

Today was NOT a total loss, as I managed to stay within my calorie range. Calorie Budger is 1447. Calories Consumed 1478 less Calories Burned 319 with a positive balance of 288. I also enjoyed 8 servings of fruits/veggies and 1 serving of whole grains. The Walk Kansas Challenge has definitely heightened my sense of a balanced diet!

Well, I am off to relax and hopefully get a good night's rest. Tomorrow will be my LONG day, but the last of evening classes for a while. I love teaching, especially the financial education classes, but evenings are not my favorite time for delivery.

Spectacular Sunday!!!

WOW....today turned out to be a gorgeous day in Kansas! It started out overcast and cool...but ended with sunshine and warm temperatures. The kids and I enjoyed playing outside, running around, kicking balls over the house, and just being silly! We also dug out the bicycles and the kids took advantage of the driveway in the late afternoon, while I sat in the sunshine and graded papers. I am so ready for daylight savings time next weekend!


Physically, I am feeling better and better....so hopefully my activities today will not hinder my attempt to rise at 5 a.m. on Monday morning! I managed to squeeze in an hour of mixed cardio at the gym. I did 35 minutes of interval running and 30 minutes on the elliptical. I also kicked the soccer ball around with my son, so my total exercise minutes for today are 85. I will not complain, as my normal daily exercise is 45 minutes in the morning. I am hoping with the arrival of spring that I can tack on a 30 minute jog each evening!


As far as food goes, I have had an awesome day! 1564 calories consumed - 434 calories burned = 317 balance....meaning I can enjoy an evening snack, should I feel the need. I have logged 7 servings of fruits/veggies and 1 whole grain. I intended to have a piece of wheat toast with supper, but after all of my fruit...I was FULL. I hope that I can keep up this momentum all week. I have made healthy choices today and not allowed myself to get too hungry! This is a great way to start out my week.


Best Wishes to all of my fellow Walk Kansas team members!!! Bring It On ROCKS!!!

New Week! New Outlook! New Challenge!

We are almost to the end of the first week of March, 2010. I started this month out strong, but wilted fast as I endured the 'crud' that settled into my sinus cavities. My attempt to begin the 30-Day Shred was quickly postponed as I barely had the energy to lift my head off the pillow...let alone do a 20-minute intense workout with Jillian Michaels. As I slowly begin to feel better, I am excited because the Walk Kansas Challenge has officially begun today! For the next 8-weeks, I will be keeping a daily log of the number of minutes per day that I exercise; along with the number of servings of fruits and vegetables and whole grains that I consume. I am on a fabulous team with five others and we have creatively named ourselves 'Bring It On - Bitch'. We are competing against 6 others in our Beta Tau Sorority. The losing team has to be the beer wenches at this year's Kahola Lake Party. Needless to say, I will NOT be hauling beer for anyone!!! So far today, I have had a banana, a cup of V8 Fusion (1 serving fruit/1 serving veggie), an apple, and steel cut oats! I am planning on hitting the gym for some light cardio for about an hour! SURELY this motivation will help me stay on track to lose a few pounds and firm up! As soon as I can breath without coughing up a lung, I will begin my strength training video again. For now, I am going to walk or jog or elliptical until I don't feel like I am going die every time I exert any energy towards exercise!

Spring Break begins in less than a week! Whoo Hoo! I am sure I will spend most of my time off doing spring cleaning around the house, but it will be nice to sleep in and spend some extra time with my kiddos!

Where is my motivation hiding?

I have been MIA the last few days. This 'crud' as the doctor so eloquently put it, is still creating some chaos in my body! The doc is treating me for a sinus infection, so I desperately hope that the antibiotics kick in soon! I have been taking it 'easy' as much as possible....or that is allowed inside my world. With three kids and a husband, it is difficult to truly rest. At any rate, I am doing the best I can and I am hoping to feel better tomorrow...as the Walk Kansas Challenge officially begins! I will be heading to the store in the morning to stock up on extra fruits, veggies and whole grains, as I will also be tracking those items, along with my minutes of daily exercise.


I ran into an acquaintance who has recently lost 60 pounds! Now, that is a large amount of weight and I should have noticed it immediately, but since I don't see her that often, I did not realize it was that significant of a loss. At any rate, I asked her what she had been doing to lose the weight. She responded by saying that she is 'no longer eating her way through life'. That statement was profound to me! I was so impressed by her honesty! She said she used to eat for any reason and she has stopped doing that. She also said it is the hardest thing she has ever done in her life (or something to that effect). I am always so impressed by individuals who can recognize their bad eating habits and make a lifestyle change.


Food addictions are often misdiagnosed. People assume you are just lazy or weak. They have NO idea what types of internal battles people may be dealing with on the inside. Grief, depression, anxiety are the top three that enter my mind. Our emotions play such a huge part in our lives.


For me, I just LOVE food. It seems like eating revolves around all areas of my life. If I am going to meet up with a friend...we have lunch. If I am going to a family gathering...there is a meal. If we are celebrating something...we get ice cream OR if we need to heal a broken heart because we did not win a door prize at the banquet...we get ice cream (6-year old was devastated...another story). I could go on and on and on! I wish I had the answer as to how we could fix this type of addiction. For now, I will focus on eating healthy.

TOMORROW....I am hoping for sunshine and energy! I need to move!

Day #4 of Flabby~2~Firm (AM Post)

Good Morning....well, at least that is normally what I say to anyone I greet in the morning. However for me today, it is not so good. This stupid cold is really wreaking havoc on my body and my energy levels. This is day 4 of my personal challenge and I am two for two. I have worked out two days and this is my second day of not working out. No worries though! This cold cannot linger around too much longer and I will back on my feet and pushing myself to work out smarter....not harder! As with any cold virus or allergy attack...it must run it's course!


For now, I will focus on what I do have the energy for....and that is healthy eating! I have gotten lazy when it comes to food journaling. No excuses other than I don't want to write down and see what I have actually eaten. But I know from past attempts and successes, that healthy eating and food journaling is going to be key in my reaching my goal. I have used several options in the past when it comes to food journaling. The Weight Watchers Online program is excellent, if you want to spend the money. It is a great tool and I highly recommend it for beginners. Another great resource, that is also free, is My-Calorie-Counter. I also keep track of things in a basic Excel worksheet. For me, I like to track my food, the number of Weight Watchers points I am consuming, and also the number of calories.


For me, this becomes like an obsession!!! I am constantly logging into My-Calorie-Counter to look at foods and see where I am at on my daily calorie intake. I also feel as if I constantly have food on my mind. This can be dangerous, as the more I think about food...the more I want to eat! I need to find that middle ground!


Well, I need to get the kiddos around and head out for work and school. I will post this evening!

Light Bulb Moment

I came home early from work to sneak in a much needed nap before the kiddos get home. Like I have mentioned before, this cold is kicking my butt!!! I found myself watching the Discovery Health Channel. When I awoke from my mid-afternoon siesta, the show I Lost It! was on. It is a show that profiles people who have lost a large amount of weight AND kept it off. There was one woman in particular that really caught my attention. Her name is Julia Havey and I really felt as if I could relate to her story. Granted, I don't need to lose large amounts of weight; but I was able to relate to her ice cream cravings. She talks about how she would bounce checks to pay for her ice cream habit and have no remorse. Julia talked about how a light bulb went off that made her realize she needed a change in her lifestyle and her eating habits. For each of us, that moment or that 'rock bottom' is different. For me, I don't know if I have truly reached that point. There are times, like today when I am feeling lousy, that I feel entitled to eat that crap! What is wrong with me that I feel entitled....like just because I am sick, I deserve to make myself feel better by eating cookies? I mean, that mentality is NOT healthy. But how many of us do that, on a daily basis? We rationalize our unhealthy behavior because we are afraid of a little hard work. We would rather jeopardize our longevity, our health, our lives, and our families lives just for that fix! That one moment of joy will now be hours and hours of guilt! Instant Gratification!!! My problem is, I don't cheat on occasion.....I cheat on a daily basis. To make matters worse, I am a closet eater. I hide my cheating moments!!! Obviously, I am not proud of my behavior, so I do it alone! Then, I wonder why I don't see many changes in my body. Or I wonder why my digestive system is sluggish. I am on a roller coaster ride to no where!

Two years ago, I joined several of my sorority sisters in a weight loss challenge. It was about this time of the year when we started, as the Walk Kansas challenge was a major part of our motivation. I was determined to win that competition (which in the end, I did not), but during that, I lost weight....ate healthy....and felt great! The problem is/was, once that challenge ended...I stopped focusing on my healthy eating. I went back to my old ways. I am back to where I started from and that makes me sad.

Why do I keep doing this to myself????? How can I get healthy and stay healthy?????

I am not getting any younger....so the time to do something about my poor eating habits is NOW!

Confessions of an Emotional Eater

There they are.....the four boxes of Girl Scout cookies that I just had to order! They are staring me in the face! I restrain....I walk away. But they just keep calling my name. It is like a drug to me! Sugar~Chocolate~Caramel~Coconut

I love the crisp crunch as I take that first bite. I savor it in my mouth and inhale every delicate scent as the rich, buttery morsel slowly melts. I close my eyes...the rush begins! I feel like a drug addict as I wait for that sugar to hit my blood stream. I am at peace!

I love to eat! I crave sweet foods! I crave the fizz of a cold can of soda! I crave that sensation of chocolate melting on my tongue! I dream of ice cream and plan out the next time I can convince my husband that we need to stop at Dairy Queen! Desserts are my favorite!

Food has become my crutch.

If I am having a bad day - I reach for food.

If I am stressed out - I reach for food.

If I am celebrating - I reach for food.

If I am feeling sick - I reach for food.

If I am bored - I reach for food.

This is the pattern that I need to break! I need to relearn how to occupy my time with something other than food. I need to eat healthy meals and snacks, and only splurge occasionally! This is my challenge! This is my weakness!

This is my confession!

Day #3 of Flabby~2~Firm

EXCUSES!!!

The snooze button on my alarm was my friend today!!! Since returning from the BPA State Leadership Conference, I have just not felt 100%. Now I am battling a head cold, along with my husband and two of my kiddos. It is NOT fun. Yesterday was my long day, so this morning, I decided to give my body a rest by sleeping in and not going to the gym. However, the day is not over yet. While my oldest is at guitar lessons, I am gonna throw on my walking shoes and spend that 30-minutes cruising around downtown Emporia on my feet. Tonight will be stretching and Yoga. My muscles need some TLC.

Surprisingly, I am not as sore as I had thought I might be. For now, I am going to do the strength training video every other day, until I build up strength and endurance. It will take me longer than the 30-days that the video indicates...but that is okay! This is a marathon, NOT a sprint.

Sick and Tired of feeling Sick and Tired

So, has this been the LONGEST winter or what??? I mean, seriously??? I felt so blessed during the Christmas holiday that no one in our family had really gotten sick. Then WHAMO....we got knocked down with sinus infections, ear infections, stomach flu, and now just a plain ole nasty cold. It is crazy how a simple cold can take a person down so quickly and make them feel like pooh-pooh!!!

I am so ready to open the windows and let the outside in! I want to pull down curtains and wash everything! Dust my house from floor to ceiling! Take down the tired ole snowman decor and put up spring flowers, bunnies and Easter Baskets! Spring Break is less than two weeks away! I am so ready for some lazy days to sleep in, hit the gym mid-morning, and then spend the afternoons chasing my children around the park! I am also so ready for early evening walks outside and the smell of fresh cut grass! Daffodils are dancing in my dreams!

Day #2 - Flabby-2-Firm

Well, I decided to change the way my blog appears. I thought the pink text was difficult to read. Plus, since I am headed to Orange County, California in May, I thought it would be fitting to have my blog represent my true goal....to be fit and firm for the O.C.

Let's see.....I made it through Day #1. That is always the easiest day! I am motivated and feel like I could conquer the world. By the end of my working day, I had this incredible pain in my upper right leg. Not sure if it was a strained muscle or a pinched nerve, but it HURT. I did a lot of stretches last night and this morning it felt much better. It may have been my body's way of saying to slow down! At any rate, I decided to wait and start the 30-Day Shred video until today!

For Day #2, I started out with Level 1 of the 30-Day Shred. I am not too proud to admit that I had to do the modified version of some of the exercises a few times. I also had to allow myself a few 5-second breaks. It is a 20-minute workout and Jillian kicks your a$$. I am trying to decide if I attempt the strength exercises daily, or every other day. I may go with every other day for now. Once I have built up my endurance and strength....I will kick it up a notch. Speaking of strength...I have NO upper body strength. Push-ups were difficult! I will definitely be sore tomorrow!

Today is my LONG day, as I am working til 3:30. Rush around to get the kids picked up and fed. Then back to work by 5:30 for a night class. 5:00 a.m. will come early on Wednesday morning. Luckily, the forecast this week is partly sunny with warmer temps! I am ready to get outside and start walking. Walk Kansas begins on Sunday....so I need to make sure I am getting plenty of minutes of exercise each day!!! Team - Bring It On is gonna ROCK!

I hope that everyone has a Terrific Tuesday!!!

Day #1 - Flabby.....2 Firm

Wow, I have not posted on this blog since 2008. Since discovering Facebook, I have kinda been out of the Blogging Mode. Well, since I am embarking on a new challenge, I felt that blogging would be the easiest and most effective way for me to journalize my current challenge. That is to turn flab into firm! Now, some of you may look at me and think I am thin. I am not saying that I am overweight....but I am squishy! My goal is to eat healthier, firm up the flab, go down a size of clothing, and lose a few pounds along the way. Today is March 1st, 2010. No better time to get started than the present. Here is what I am going to do along the way:

• Journal my daily food intake. If it crosses my lips, it needs to get written down!


• Exercise daily! I am going to use the 30-Day Shred for strength training; daily cardio at Emporia Fitness; and the Walk Kansas challenge to keep me motivated. I am NOT gonna be a beer wench at the lake this summer!


• Work on my running endurance, as I want to run a 5k this summer.


• Blog my efforts daily! This will keep me accountable not only to myself, but to the lurkers out there who decide to creep into my blog and ready my daily posts.

I am staring out at 5'3" and 142 pounds. My BMI is 25.2 which is technically overweight. Granted, it is the low end, but still....overweight is really not how I characterize myself.

Today, I woke up a little before 5 a.m. and headed to the gym. I was on the treadmill for 45 minutes, and did interval running. After work, I am headed to buy a measuring tape so I can take proper measurements of my body. Then, I will pop in 30-Day Shred and get started with strength. I plan on posting again tonight.

Happy Monday! Let the challenge begin!