Saturday, July 7, 2012

Day Four

Down 3.6 pounds so far. Yeah, baby! I'm feeling really great. Last night we went out for dinner to Boston Pizza, and I had lemon-baked salmon w/steamed veg and a salad. And water! I love the feeling of willpower and sheer determination.

Tonight we're going to a roller derby. Cool, huh?

Also on today's agenda: EXERCISE. I may go for a walk / run, or do a workout dvd. Currently I'm being extremely lazy, catching up on this week's Hell's Kitchen episodes.

14 days to Maine!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

17 Days.

That's it, that's all. Just 17 days until our summer vacation in Maine. And what does that mean, you ask? It means I have just enough time to do cycle 1 of the 17DD before we leave. The goal: to lose between 8 and 10 pounds. It will require discipline. I know I've got that inside me, just have to channel it, 24 hours a day, for 17 full days.


Today went really, really well. I followed the plan to the letter. Hopefully tonight I'll get in some exercise. Maybe a walk. Or a workout dvd.


I'm battling a sore throat and praying to the gods that it isn't strep. If it's not better by Friday I'll have to go to the clinic for a swab. For now I'm drinking lots of tea and lemon water.


That's all for now. I just thought I should check in since it'd been so long since I'd last updated.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Bleh. Mother Nature has been wild the past few days. Something's got her all riled up.
As per usual when the weather changes so drastically, I am now battling a cold. It started with a sore throat, which has now become a dry, scratchy throat, and "spinny head" syndrome, and overall ickiness.

The good news: I hit up the gym on the weekend. Flow on Saturday, Combat on Sunday. Combat was extremely tough, but I loved it. It's my favourite GL class.
If I am feeling okay later, I am going to hit up another Flow class, and a 30-minute Pump class. Alternatively, I could do 30-minute Pump followed by 30-minute CXWORX, but that sounds hard given today's lack of strength.

This week will be a lot of rest, vitamin C, and liquids. I will exercise as much as I can, because I know it does help to a certain extent.

I'm going to start running again this week, too. New shoes, starting from 5:1s. Hopefully outside, when the weather improves. It may be okay by tomorrow or Wednesday. My next races will be 5K in Maine (July 27), 5K Army Run in Ottawa (Sept 23), and 10K in KW (Oktoberfest).

My question to you today, blogland: What are your tried-and-true cures for a pesky cold?

Monday, May 28, 2012

Raaaaaaaaaace!

<-- See me? In the red shoes? Don't I look like a runner?

This is the picture I will use as motivation when things get tough. Kudos to my friend Veronica for the superb picture-taking skills!

Race Weekend was such an inspiration. My run, though not stellar at 43:06, renewed my passion for running. The past two weeks have been tough with leg / foot issues, sore calves and shins mostly. But now I know I can do it. I proved it.

Boyfriend and I will be doing a 5K in Maine at the end of July. Then I'm going to sign up for the Army Run 5K in September, and maybe another 5K or two before the Oktoberfest 10K (with my amazing Aunt Vera!!).

This week my goal is to commit to 17DD-style eating, get back on track, do strength / cardio / yoga. Now that the race is over, I don't have an excuse not to focus on all of the above.

I leave you with one more picture. I just love it so much and have to share :)

Don't we look happy?

Monday, May 14, 2012

It's all about ME

12 days till Race Day. Less than 2 weeks. I had a crappy run on Friday, thought I'd killed my legs, quite literally. I haven't run since. I have a bit of a mental block going on at the moment. But I will conquer it, and I will run like the wind on May 26.

I've been stressing about too many things lately - feeling pulled in all sorts of directions. So, in honour of Race Weekend and my desire to totally rock the 5K, I am making the next two weeks MINE. I will focus on my healthy eating, my exercise, lowering my stress level and just being happy.

Tonight I had my last Girl Guide meeting, so that's one less thing to worry about. Our last big event is tomorrow night, then we get the summer off.

I did the 30 Day Shred tonight. Jillian kicks my ass every time. I'm aiming to do that 5 days a week. I know I need to build up my core strength. My legs are pretty strong right now, which is great. Arms and core, less so.

Work is going to be difficult this week, so my plan is to make my non-work hours count. The task I'm currently doing has the potential to become mentally draining. I don't want that to happen.

I can do this. I matter, and I am worth it.

Monday, May 7, 2012

It's easier with a friend

Good evening, blogland.

Tonight I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to my friend Jaimee, who has turned my fear of weight lifting, BodyPump and CXWORX  into some sort of sick need (it's a good thing, really!) for a good butt kick on a Monday night. Or a Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. You get the idea. (Side note: I'd like to add spinning to this list at some point.)

Working out, sticking to a plan, being healthy - it's all easier when you aren't alone.

The change in my strength, even in a few short weeks, is noticeable. I feel more energetic. I need fewer breaks between reps. I'm pushing myself harder than I have in years. And to think, all it took was having someone else say, "hey, you can do this."

Do you have someone in your life who helps you feel stronger, points out that you really CAN do more than you think? If so, I encourage you to say thank you to them today.

Tonight I feel invincible.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Bring on summer!

I love May. It's such a great month; so full of promise. The flowers are blooming, the bunnies are out, children are playing, and I feel like I can run free.


Today I had a great run through the trails of Kanata. Another thing I love - living in the city, yet being able to "escape" into the woods around, taking the trails wherever they lead.


We tried a new food tonight - elk sausage. It was delicious. And we used the BBQ, too :) Another favourite thing about the summer - BBQ!


Race Weekend's coming up in 20 days. I'm aiming for 4 runs a week between now and then. I really, really want to come in under 40 minutes. It doesn't have to be much under, though 37:something would make me really, really happy.


My Aunt and I are doing a 10K this fall, but I'd also like to do more 5Ks before then. One in Maine for sure, in July, on the last night of our vacation. Then maybe one in September / October.


The exercise is paying off, too! I was 184.6 this morning. My goal this month is to stay hydrated (I need to drink more water!), eat as healthy as humanly possible, and continue to improve my level of fitness.


Today, I feel like I'm on top of the world. I can do anything.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

New week.

Happy Saturday, blogland.

I'm here to make a confession. This week was not very "on plan." I let emotion get the better of me, and wimped out on exercise because of the crappy weather.

No excuses, though, right? I got off track, and I'm here to own it. This is a process. All that matters is I achieve my end goal.

I'm also here to tell you that, starting today, I'm back on track.
This morning I made a smoothie of fat-free plain, greek yogurt, plus half a scoop of protein powder, and 1 cup of frozen blueberries.
I'm going to focus on 17DD principles - high protein, low carbs, lots of cleansing veggies, fruit. And exercise, of course. Because that's what's really going to get me to my goal.

I'm working on a plan, and when I complete it I will post it here. Blogging helps keep me accountable.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Bad case of the Mondays

Is it Friday yet? Better yet, is it spring yet? Today we had snow. SNOW. On April 23 ffs. Not cool, Mother Nature, not cool.

I didn't get to the gym tonight. GG ran later than usual, had to drive a couple girls home myself. So now I'm in my PJs, catching up on Episode 3 of Scandal. Good show, BTW.

I have some work to do before bed. Today is like that day that will never end.

Tomorrow night, to make up for tonight, I will aim to do 30 min Step followed by 60 min Pump. Wednesday, I will run. Even in the rain. Bleh.

The forecast for the week sucks. Random thought of the day: it's very appropriate that this week is rainy. It's like the heavens are sad. This week is one year since Grandma died. I'm doing my best to focus on the good, but I miss her terribly. So many times a day I think of her and wish we could have just one more conversation.

T, you should move here. We'll have sushi every Sunday. xo

Sunday, April 22, 2012

This week's plan

This week's motto is: "Success is not an option."

With that in mind, here is my exercise plan for the week:

MONDAY - 30 min BodyPump @ 8:30 (after GG)
TUESDAY - 30 min BodyStep @ 7 p.m. OR swim 8:15 to 9:15
WEDNESDAY - Run 25 min straight
THURSDAY - 30 min BodyVive followed by 30 min CXWORX (not my first choice) OR swim 8:30 to 9:15
FRIDAY - Run clinic

I think I may need another strength workout in there. I'm aiming for 3 times a week. That, plus 3 runs a week, plus some cross-training in there when I can, and I know I can't fail.

I will have one rest day a week (this weekend it was Saturday). The body needs time to relax, too, right?

On the menu this week is Kickin' Chicken (Looneyspoons Collection), Cilantro-Lime Shrimp (skinnytaste), BlueWater salmon fillets, maybe BBQ on Friday night if I can convince boyfriend.

We had a great 25 min run today, followed by a sushi dinner out. So tasty. Best part of the day, though? Spending some quality one-on-one time with my love.

*Cheers* to a successful week!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Positive self-talk

Good morning, blogland.

Today I want to take a break from bragging about my progress (as I'm sure you'd like to read something different from time to time) to discuss something that I know I've struggled with, and I'm sure many of you have as well.

Positive self-talk. How many times have you caught yourself saying, "Ugh, if only I didn't have this muffin top" or "My flabby arms are so gross!" or even "No one would ever want to see me in a tank top / bathing suit / skirt / shorts"?

I know I do it. Just last night, after a particularly difficult run, I came home, slightly frustrated, thinking, "holy crap, a 41-minute 5K is not something to be proud of. I need to do better."

Sometimes (read: a lot of the time) we're our own worst enemies. The fact is, I ran. Despite a tired body and mind after a long week of intense exercise and busy work, I went to run clinic, and I completed the scheduled run. My legs felt like lead the entire time, but I didn't give up.

So why wasn't my inner voice saying, "Way to go, Sadie! You rock, girl!"
The answer? I think it's mostly habit. I always want to do better. I hate failure.
The trick is to realize that a crappy run is not a failure. I RAN. I should be shouting it from the rooftops.

Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and say, "Self, you are beautiful." I know I don't, not nearly often enough, anyway. A healthy self-image starts with believing that you are worthy of praise.

My challenge to you all this week is to turn any and all negative thoughts into positive ones. Tell yourself you're beautiful. Celebrate your accomplishments, big and small.

You are worth it. And so am I.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Who's totally rockin' it this week?

That'd be ME!!

Last night: total of 26 min running, with boyfriend. Went faster than my "slow" Running Room pace. Felt amazing.
Tonight: run/walk 1.5K to gym; 1 hour BodyPump; 1 hour spin class; 1.5K walk home.

MFP told me today that if every day were like today, I'd weight 168.6lb in 5 weeks. Now, I know that won't be the case, but it gives me hope that I can see the 170's by Race Weekend. That is my current goal.

Tomorrow night: run clinic. 2 X 10s:1s, then 1X 5:1. No problem! I will succeed.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Workout Queen

That is what I will be by the end of this summer. Maybe I'll get my tiara as a reward ;)

(Note: I keep telling boyfriend that I need a tiara to complete my jewellery set - sapphire ring, crystal necklace - all I'm missing is a tiara, right?)

Tonight I met up with a friend who recently returned from England. She just happens to be a former personal trainer, and a current physiotherapist. So she's well in tune with how to get fit, and she accepts no excuses.

I'm so excited. I can picture "fit" me, and she looks FABULOUS. She's also a better runner, and she may (just MAY) do the CN Tower Climb again one day. (But don't tell boyfriend that, k?)

Tomorrow night: Run club
Thursday: BodyPump (Yes, I'm scared)
Friday: Run clinic

In other happy news, I totally rocked the eating today.
For dinner I cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a large pot on the stove, with evoo and garlic. I then added chopped tomatoes and zucchini tossed with basil and some pesto parmesan dressing. Simple, tasty.

T, you bet your cute buns we're going to achieve our goals! No excuses baby!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Happy Saturday, blogland.

It's almost halfway through April now. Time just keeps on tickin'. A good friend of mine is very close to having a baby. It seems like not that long ago she told me she was pregnant. My little sister is almost finished her third year of university. I've been shacked up for almost 8 months now. Change just keeps on happening. The world goes round and round and round.

Last night was week 3 of my run clinic. Here are my thoughts so far:
  • I love running with a group. The motivation is great, and I'm meeting lots of new and interesting people.
  • My progress is amazing me. After more than a year of not running, I'm shocked at what I'm able to do again.
  • The "talks" at our clinics haven't been all that exciting thus far, but I remain hopeful.
I need to start focusing on cross training, strength building (core, primarily) and yoga. Now that I'm fully committed to running and actually sticking to my plan, I feel I should incorporate other activities. Core strength and yoga are my priorities. I really should restart the push up challenge, and maybe add the crunches challenge too. There's a BodyFlow class tomorrow that I will try to attend.

Exercise is what will get me to my goal, this I know. And I will get to my final goal by November 4, my 28th birthday.

No Excuses. Only Results.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Cycle 2

Happy Monday, blogland! Today's post is brought to you by the 17DD, Cycle 2: Activate.

Final stats from Cycle 1: lowest weight = 185.2lb
Today I did not WI. The weekend was pretty carbolific (not surprising), so I'm giving myself a couple days of healthy eating before I face the scale.

Cycle 2 means starches! I had potatoes with lunch :) Tonight I get beef!

Running is still going well - I'm up to 2 sets of 10:1s now. Hopefully 3 sets this week. Boyfriend's been running with me for motivation and support. I'm way slower than he'd like, but he stays with me.

This cycle, I want to focus on cross training. I haven't been doing enough strength work or yoga. I want to be strong and fast by May 26. I'm really excited to run at Race Weekend again.

April's going to be a great month!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

April Fool's

Well, Mother Nature is certainly having her fun this morning. It's currently snowing outside. Is this payback for that glorious week of sunshine and hot temps in March?

It's Sunday, the start of a new week and new month. With the exception of this wacky weather, I say BRING IT ON. April's always a good month because it's the new fiscal year at work, so it feels like the new year all over again. Plus, the good weather must be on its way, right? Pretty soon summer will be here.

On that note, I have great news :) My cousins will be home in June and July for six weeks from Australia! S and I are going to spend a week with them at my Aunt and Uncle's place.

Cycle 1 of the 17DD ends on Wed. I had a couple "cheats" this weekend, but yesterday the scale said 185.4. That's 6.6lb DOWN!! *cue happy dance*

I haven't decided whether I'm going to continue with the 17DD, or track calories, or what. I like not having to track, but I'm not sure I can continue indefinitely with these restrictions. I'll do some pondering this week.

Next weekend's Good Friday menu: Mom's lasagna, hashbrown casserole, ham. My mouth is watering already. My wonderful Aunt has agreed to run with me pre-dinner to try to minimize the damage. Saturday night is wing night at the Legion, so I should probably run on Saturday, too.

This week's plan is to run on Tuesday, maybe Wednesday if I can fit it in. We're leaving for Toronto that day, so it'd have to be either right after work or early in the a.m. Darn life getting in the way of my fitness!

Friday, March 30, 2012

Rough day.

Ever have one of those days where you wish you could just hit the "reset" button? Or better yet, "fast forward" to another day?

That was today. To start with, it's end of fiscal, which is never a good scene. Chaos is an understatement.

Added to that, I have a plague. The worst I've had since I had mono, I think. Today is day 3 and I still feel like dying.

Unfortunately, given the aforementioned end of fiscal, I had to suck it up and go to work. And, as I figured, work sucked.

I missed run clinic because of this stupid plague.

The only thing keeping me going was knowing boyfriend was coming home.

Oh! Guess what? Boyfriend's not coming home now! Not until Sunday. *cue rage*

Then, to top it off, I call my Mom to vent, and she literally cuts me off mid-sentence, saying "Okay, I'll let you go, have a good night." My sister came in (to my Mom's) while I was talking, and apparently she was more interesting.

*sigh*

The good news? The day can't get much worse. In precisely 13 minutes, I will be going to bed. Tomorrow I have to attend a GG fundraiser, and I *must* be cheerful.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Update!

First, today's good news: 188.4 on the scale this morning. Wheee!!! A whole weekend away with children and I managed to stay on track.
I "splurged" a couple times. Once on a TH French Vanilla (the powder stuff + hot water), and once on a banana boat. They are my favourite!


Apart from that, I was so on track it still amazes me.


Run clinic ROCKED. We ended up doing 5 sets of 5:1s and I felt amazing. My runner's high has come back and I've rediscovered the passion I used to have for running. I will totally rock Race Weekend this year.


Today's not-so-good news:
  1. It's cold and windy. Not optimal running weather. I did a Zumba class this morning, and I'll hopefully run tomorrow.
  2. Boyfriend's sick. And he's leaving for NB again tomorrow.
I took today off, anticipating I'd be too tired to go to work. I'm glad I did. Easing into the week is a good plan. I ended up feeling completely miserable on Saturday - sore throat, exhaustion. I seem to be okay now, but this weather has a tendency to mess with my immune system.


I did groceries today and bought a few "treats" (still on plan, just not stuff I usually buy):
  • Duck breast - haven't cooked this before, so it'll be interesting
  • "Lobster flavoured pollock" - with cocktail sauce, this is delicious!
  • Philadelphia 95% ff herb & garlic cream cheese - to have as a dip with veggies
Having these little "treats" will keep the 17DD more interesting. Eating the same things over and over again can get monotonous. This way I'm more likely to stay on track.


I think I'm going to curl up now with a cup of tea and ChiRunning.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

An end in sight?

This week has been nutty. Finally, it's Thursday. *huge sigh of relief* Wait, no, Thursday means tomorrow is Friday, which means Girl Guide camp with 22 children and 4 other adults. Talk about nutty.

When I joined GG last fall, I was inspired to give something back to the community, to feel like I was making a small difference. Some people think I'm crazy. I mean, I don't even like children all that much.

Surprisingly, though, I do enjoy it. I mean, of course there are nights when I'd rather be anywhere else. But for the most part, it's fun to watch these girls learn and grow, and to help them discover new things.

Still, I am mostly looking forward to Monday, my day off, when I can catch up on sleep and other important things.

RR clinic starts tomorrow night. I'm a wee bit nervous. I'm not really a group runner, but I needed this to stay on track. So we'll see how it goes. Maybe I'll actually end up loving group running. I hope so :) Trying new things is always a good idea. The worst that happens is I realize why I'd rather run alone, in which case I'll just keep on keepin' on.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Determination

Run clinic starts this Friday. I've been worried; on Sunday I had the crappiest run I've had since I started again. It really messed with my mojo.


Great news: I've now done 5:1s X 4 two nights in a row. And I've totally rocked those runs. Yeah, I'm a superstar. I'm going to kill this 5K.


The scale refuses to budge. Honestly, though, I know I'm doing all the right things, so I'm not that worried about it. I started the 17DD on Monday and so far, so good. It actually is quite doable. Lots of protein and veg, so I never get hungry.


Busy week, which is making me anxious, stressed and a little crazy at times. Running has been my saving grace. It's a better alternative to picking a stupid fight with boyfriend, who generally has infinite patience and deserves a medal for dealing with me.


Girl Guide camping this weekend....think I can sneak away for a "sanity run" at some point? Yeah, not likely. Too bad! 22 children between the ages of 9 and 11. EEK! I'm off Monday though, so I'll be able to rest up, get things done, and exercise.


The weather here has been so amazing. 29 degrees today!! I love summer in March :)


This is a totally random post, living up to the name of my blog. Sometimes I just gotta get out all my thoughts. If you followed all the way to the end, kudos to you!!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Feelin' Empowered!

SPRING'S HERE! SPRING'S HERE! SPRING'S HERE!

*happy dance*

I've been happy dancing a lot this week. Things are going well. I've been eating well, feeling energetic and good about my choices.

I've been running - tonight I managed 5 run, 1 walk, 5 run, 1 walk, 1.5 run, .5 walk, 1.5 run, 1 walk, 2 run.

I think I need shoes that aren't so minimalist, but that's a minor issue that I can easily fix. I can do shorter runs and treadmill runs in my lightweight shoes, but I need more support for longer and outdoor runs.

Tonight we had fajitas and they were tasty! I've been increasing my intake of fibre and protein, and feeling less hungry throughout the day. I've also been drinking my water this week.

I added "no diet pop" to my Lent challenge this week. So far (two days in), so good.

This post reads "look at me! look at me!" but so be it. It's my blog and I'll brag if I want to :P

On the money side of things, I haven't spent any in two days. Tomorrow night we are going out for dinner with S's family, and Friday I have a facial (prepaid, but I usually upgrade because it feels oh so much better).

The biggest thing is that S and I are communicating. We've had some good conversations this week about our relationship and I feel great.

According to my neighbour, six months of living together = officially common law. Really? I mean, people had mentioned this before, but I was *certain* it was a year. Apparently, though, I was wrong. I am in a common-law relationship. How very adult of me. I feel like this should have been marked by some big celebration. Sadly, S worked on the weekend of our six-month shack-up-a-versary. Maybe this weekend we'll make up for that ;)

I am a happy girl tonight.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Commitment.

Today's post inspired by my good friend Lynn, and these words:

"There's a difference between interest and commitment.

When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient.

When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."

Author unknown


I've clearly been closer to the "interest" side of things lately. Sure, I have goals. I even have "plans" to achieve them. It's the stick-to-it-ness that I've been lacking.


NO EXCUSES. ONLY RESULTS. I should get that tattoo'd ("tattooed" looked weird) on my forehead.


In the interest of being accountable, I consumed 2,228 calories yesterday. I will make up for it today with exercise, and I *will* stay on track and within my calorie range today. No Excuses. Only Results.


Thank you, Lynn, for the reminder ♥♥

Friday, March 9, 2012

Half-ass will get thee nowhere.

WI day today. 192.4. Again. While I'd love to blame my scale, I know what the problem is.
I'm tracking, yes I am. Faithfully about 50% of the time. So I *know* that my lack of weight loss cannot be blamed on the evil scale. It's my own lack of self-discipline.


I've been tossing around the idea of doing the 17DD again, just to kickstart my weight loss. But I need to figure out if I can really be that restrictive, even for a short period of time.


Mostly, I just need to stop shoveling food into my mouth. I need to weigh, measure, portion control. Easy peasy, right?

Why is it that the solution always sounds so simple, until you go to put it into practice? Why is there such a disconnect between my "want" and my "do"? Or maybe the problem is all in my "want" - I want food, I want to be lazy, I want to lose weight but I know I can't until I deal with the first two.

This weekend I'm going to focus on getting back to basics.

I'm afraid to say this out loud, but I may need to cut out the weekend wine. *sob*
Diet pop's gotta go too. I need to drink way more water than I have been of late.
I'm still rocking the "no dessert / junk food" challenge.

Do I dare try something as drastic as the 17DD? Or can this really be done with a few tweaks, a bit of moderation and a lot of discipline?

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Two words.

Fucking. Amazing. (I can swear here, right?)

That, folks, was my run tonight. In the great outdoors, no less! I totally rocked it.

I did - are you ready for it? As in, really, really ready? Okay, here it is:

I ran 3 min, walked 1, ran 2, walked 1, and repeated that FOUR TIMES.

Now, this may seem minor to you, but if you know anything about me, you know how much I struggled with my "injury" and not being able to run anymore. You also know that my runner's high is better to me than any drug ever would or could be.

I'm so happy right now.

My legs are certainly feeling every minute of the run, but not in an "ouch" kind of way. More like, "oh, okay, we're really workin' it today."

I don't use this term often, but I think "amazeballs" applies here. I feel like I've found my passion again. I can't wait for spring when all my runs can be done outdoors.

I also love Kanata's streets. I went in one direction and ended up doing a huge loop, so I didn't even have to repeat any of my route.

Now, tonight's dilemma: Do I want chicken or beef for dinner? hmm....

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Motivation.

This is me approximately one year ago. This is currently my motivation pic.

T, I'm sending mojo your way! Get that butt movin', girl! Love you.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Tough workout.

Tonight's post brought to you in honour of my right butt muscle. Yeesh, is it tight tonight.


Good news, first: I can touch my toes! My hamstrings are loving me these days. Thank you, yoga and BodyFlow.


So, tonight was run night. I was all set to do 7 sets of 2:1s. However, I started out running 4.8mph and soon my shin was sore. So, I did 2:1, follow by 3 sets of 90 seconds run, 90 seconds walk. Then I clued in. I think I have to run at 5.0 or my form just plain sucks.
So I did 3 more sets of 2:1s, followed by one last set of 90s:90s, to complete my 14 minutes of running.


Yay, me!


I followed that up with a lot of stretching, then day 3 of push ups. I feel GOOD. Well, except, you know, the butt thing.


My genius sister, who is studying kinesiology and gives me all sorts of wise workout advice, told me what to stretch.


I should also ice my shin for a bit. It's not really bothering me, but I don't want to take my chances. I really, really want to be ready to start the 5K clinic on March 23!


On tomorrow's agenda: BodyCombat. Then Absolute Comedy with my sister and cousins. Fun times for sure!


I am so happy to be exercising again.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Working out with Grandma

First, a thank you for indulging my whine last night. Things around here aren't great today, but I'm dealing.

Now, onto more important things.

Today I went to the gym. I figured, I've got all this pent-up frustration, I might as well use it for good rather than evil (Thanks, Sunshine, for the challenge!).

I ran 2:1s for 20 minutes. A grand total of 14 minutes of running. Yeah me! I felt amazing. The shin was kind of uncomfortable after 8 minutes of running, so I slowed the pace a bit for the next sets. And it worked. I felt AMAZING.

How'd I do it? I talked to Grandma the entire time. I honestly feel like she's with me when I'm pushing myself like that, and it helped me get through. So much so that I've made a decision. See, I have this angel pin of Grandma's that I keep meaning to wear, but never seems to work with my outfits. So, from now on, I will wear the angel pin on my workout shirt, so Grandma is with me every time I exercise.

I miss her every single day and think about her a lot. But it's not so much with sadness anymore; it's like she's my angel, guiding me along my way. Wearing the pin will just give me that added reminder and comfort.

Thank you, Grandma, for teaching me to be strong. You were one of the strongest women I've ever known and I'm so proud to have known and loved you. ♥

Friday, February 24, 2012

When plans go awry...

Hi, blogland.


I don't want to talk about weight loss and fitness and all my goals tonight. I want to rant about my (usually wonderful) boyfriend. I know you'll allow me this moment to get out my feelings because you all understand what it's like to need a place to let it out.


See, this weekend, tomorrow specifically, is our six-month "shack-up-a-versary." I've been treating it like a big deal, even telling boyfriend earlier this week that we should do something special.


Tonight he comes home, and when I mention doing something tomorrow, he says, "I have to work." That's it, that's all I get. In addition, he's leaving again on Sunday. For another four days.


Now, I get that work is important, and his company stupidly makes him work all.the.freaking.time. What I really don't get is the lack of communication. I mean, is it that hard to take a couple hours to do something with me? Or one hour, even. It's not like I'm demanding a full 24 hours of attention.


So now we sit, on opposite ends of the couch, not speaking. Because whenever I try to communicate, I get one-word responses that basically say nothing at all.

I'm frustrated. I'm sad. I'm trying not to cry. I keep asking myself, as I do in situations where I feel completely lost, "What would Grandma do?" And the answer is, I really don't know. Probably just walk away and do her own thing, which is what I'll end up doing. But I won't be happy about it. Nothing about this situation makes me happy.

Thanks for letting me rant. This place is a good outlet.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Push ups: Day One

The verdict: I suck. I say that not to put myself down, but because it's true. But I will not let it stop me. I started the push ups challenge at level 1 tonight. I can barely do 3 push ups in a row. Boyfriend says I need to get lower! Holy crap, this might kill me.

But I did it. I completed day one. I will be a push ups queen one day. Maybe I'll get a tiara ;)

In other news, I was sidelined by a plague this week, so no running. My muscles were all tight and bothered tonight, so I hit up a 90-minute yoga class. Can I get a "Yippee" for stress relief?

The plan for the next three days: Run, Eat Healthy Foods, Track on MFP, Continue Push Ups.
Do I dare start the sit ups challenge?

Obviously my body needs to stretch, so I definitely need to incorporate regular yoga into my life. I'm planning to hit up a BodyFlow class on Sunday. Maybe a Combat class, too!

I'm weak, so I need strength. Jillian Michaels is the best I've found so far; now I just need to commit to her.

I'm feeling on top of the world tonight, like I can do anything. Fat be gone! I will win this war. You'll see.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Running and push ups and no junk, oh my!

You guessed it. I'm back on the challenge bandwagon.

Starting on Wednesday, in honour of Lent (which is not actually a part of my life in any way), I am committing to:
  • No desserts
  • No junk food (including all chips)
  • The hundred push ups and two hundred sit ups challenges
This personal challenge, which you are all totally welcome to join, will run from this Wednesday, February 23, to April 1.

I'm feeling the motivation, baby!

On March 23, I will be starting a running clinic at the Running Room. I'm undecided between the 5K or the Women Only clinics. I am going to see how the next few weeks go. My new shoes (Saucony, electric orange!) are working okay so far. *fingers crossed* for no injuries in 2012!

I'm going to kick this belly fat into another galaxy for the very last time. I know I have to be patient and I know it won't fall off all at once, but it's going, going, gone.

My new "secret" motivation? **Warning: This may be TMI for some** If you really, really want to know, read further....................



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I want to feel comfortable enough to have sex with the lights on.

So there you have it.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Confession time: I've been slipping. An all-inclusive vacation will do that to a girl, I guess. This week hasn't been all that OP.
Yesterday I even entertained thoughts of just quitting, yet again. Crazy, right? Only a month after re-committing? What the heck was I thinking?


Before giving up altogether, I thought again about why I'm doing this. What is the point in tracking day in and day out, counting calories, exercise, and working toward some number that quite often seems absolutely unattainable?


What first came to mind was my Mom. She's been kicking ass in the weight loss department. She's gone from being an occasional walker to working out at the gym several times a week, following a training program, taking fitness classes. It's amazing to hear the energy in her voice when we talk.

The other thing that I thought about was the first time I did this whole weight loss thing, in 2008. I joined WW on February 27. By the first week of October, I'd lost 50 pounds. So, I reasoned, if I've done it once I most certainly can do it again. The recipe? A lot of determination and hard work. Fat does not just fall off the body, as much as we all wish it would. It requires some effort!

This is my mantra for the coming weeks, on those days where I just don't want to give a damn.

Yes, it's going to take a lot of work. But I am worth it. I have to put ME first.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

YAWWWWWWWN

Holy tired Tuesday, Batman. I'm not sure what happened, but I am wiped today.


The cure? Bed, a good book, SATC season 1 (I have all the seasons now!). Some tea a bit later, and I'll be set for the night.


Sometimes a girl just needs some SATC. Are you a Carrie, Miranda, Samantha or Charlotte? I've been told I'm a mix of Carrie and Miranda. So, hopeful about love but still kind of a bitch? Sounds like me!


This show is what got me through university. It brings back fond memories. Lipton Sidekicks for dinner, SATC, good friends piled into my dorm room. All kinds of fun ;)


I know I'm in a committed relationship and all, and I wouldn't change that for anything in the world, but sometimes I get lost in my memories. There were some good times in those years. I've also realized lately that I made many, many mistakes that now just make me roll my eyes when I recall them. It wasn't all good, but I wouldn't change any of it. After all, every girl needs a bad experience or two to help her appreciate the good ones even more, right?


Five days till Cuba. I cannot wait. We need this trip very badly.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Lasagna success!

I'm happy to report that the lasagna turned out AMAZING. It's not quite the same as Mom's, but it's definitely a reasonably good facsimile.

Today I didn't eat much during the day, so I splurged a bit on dinner. With the lasagna I had parmesan garlic ciabatta bread and caesar salad.

In money news, we were under budget on groceries this week (YAY!). I had to get meds for boyfriend today, though. His cold is still hanging on.

This week's goals may need to be modified slightly. Since boyfriend's sick and sleeping on the couch because it's easier for him, I won't be able to work out at 6 a.m. in the living room. I'll see if I can do a workout in the evening or something instead. I still fully plan to start my morning workouts as soon as he's better!

I've made the following this weekend:
  1. Blue Menu cinammon bran muffins w/apple
  2. "Egg muffins" - egg white substitute + broccoli + green pepper + shredded cheese, cooked in muffin cups
  3. Lasagna
  4. Chili
We'll have enough food to last the week, I think! Tomorrow night's dinner is fresh salmon w/mango & avocado salsa, steamed veg and maybe a salad.

I feel so IN CONTROL.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Cooking up a storm!

On today's agenda: crockpot chili and two pans of lasagna. We absolutely love my Mom's lasagna, so I've decided to see if I can make it, rather than waiting to see her again to raid her freezer.

The trick, she says, is to mix 1 egg and some grated cheese into the cottage cheese for the filling. This is something I never would have thought to do!

I'm on track so far today, and I forgot to say yesterday that I was down 2lb since January 3. I'm aiming for another 2lb this week, before Cuba (8 SLEEPS!!).

My exercise today came in the form of scraping 3 days of winter storm off the car. Boyfriend's been sick and hasn't left the house since Wednesday, so there were layers of ice upon snow upon ice upon snow - well, you get the idea.

Time to start cooking!

Friday, January 13, 2012

The Great Beyond

Tonight I want to talk about something totally unrelated to my goals.

Eight years ago this month, my uncle passed away from cancer. It was a very hard thing to watch, probably the hardest thing I'd had to do until Grandma died last year.

For years after he died, I found January to be the hardest month of the year. I'd often cry for no reason, wake up from nightmares, not want to get out of bed at all, and just wish for February 1st to arrive NOW. I'd dream about him all the time, and the dreams often left me disturbed and grieving all over again.

Last night I had a dream. I was sitting at my Aunt and Uncle's place with a bunch of relatives, nothing much going on, just visiting, conversing, you know, the things families do. I woke up thinking, what an odd, uneventful dream.

It wasn't until later this morning that I realized my uncle had been in the dream. But this time it wasn't scary or disturbing. This time he was just there, sitting at the table, taking it all in. As if he were part of the gathering, but not, at the same time. Just sitting in his chair, drinking a beer.

It was oddly comforting. It was like a reminder that he's out there, somewhere, watching over us all, part of the family even if we can't see him anymore.

I don't know if I believe in God or heaven or all that entails, but I really hope that, if heaven exists, Uncle Doug is there, with Grandma, Grandpa, Great Grandma Sadie and all the others who've passed away, just hanging out together and having a good time.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

An experiment.

Another hungry afternoon. I'm seriously not enjoying the hunger pangs. I consumed about 1,500 cals today, but apparently I'm not eating the right foods, or I'm still not eating enough.


So, starting tomorrow, my plan is the following:
  • Listen to hunger cues. If hungry, eat.
  • Up protein intake, decrease simple carbs.
  • Have a snack in the morning and a snack in the afternoon, plus a full breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • Make lunch a heavier meal, and dinner a lighter one.
Hopefully I will be successful with these changes.


In other news, I spent $140 today on a wax and some facial products. It sounds like a lot, I know. But I have a membership at the place I go to, and I got a really good deal. The products should last me for six-ish months.


Also, I *needed* the wax. Let's face it, no woman likes to have hairy eyebrows. When your boyfriend starts to notice, you know it's time to do something about it.


I have not yet been successful at stopping the nail-biting thing. I think it may be a boredom thing, in addition to a stress thing. Or just a bad habit that has no rhyme or reason. It's gross, I know. Tomorrow's a new day. That's what I tell myself every time I fail :P Every day's a brand new start. One day it will stick. I have to hope it will, at least. After all, if we don't have hope, what do we have?

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Hungry Hump Day

Has anyone else out there had an unusually hungry day? Clearly I have not given my body enough of something. I need to seriously review what I'm eating to figure out what's going on.

I have tracked today, though. I'm almost at 1,490 cals, which is the high end of the range I figured out today. According to MFP, to lose 1.5lb/week I need to consume 1,240 cals/day. To lose 1lb/week, I need to consume 1,490 cals/day.

The thing is, after having done this weight loss thing for what seems like my entire life but in reality is only a few years, I know that if I consume more than 1,490 today, I can just consume closer to 1,240 tomorrow and it will balance out. Or I can exercise to burn some extra calories. Logical, right?

I haven't exercised since Monday, so I should do something tonight. I know I won't feel like it tomorrow. We're due for a lot of snow tomorrow, so when I get home I'm sure I'll want to hibernate.

I dislike that I have to talk myself into exercise these days, but I'm sucking it up because complaining isn't going to get me anywhere. I'm working on being a more positive version of myself.

In other news, I got a great deal on new winter boots today - my old ones were falling apart. So, I got a brand new pair at Spring for $63.27 total. Great, huh? I'm proud of myself.

Boyfriend's sick. So mini goal for this week is not to catch what he's got. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

And on the 8th day she said...

Being on track ROCKS! I'm not sure if it's having a goal or feeling like I'll actually achieve it this time or the added energy of all the green tea I've been drinking or just some trick my mind is playing on me, but I am HAPPY.


MyFitnessPal is so cool. So far I haven't come across a food or brand it doesn't recognize. Cool, huh?


I just had the most delicious snack of triscuits and extra old white cheddar cheese. Mmmmm. Tonight's dinner is mussels, you know the High Liner kind in garlic butter? I freaking love them.


Exercise is where I need to put forth a bit more effort. I'm seriously considering getting up at 6 a.m. next week (I know, crazy!) to do the Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. I know it's a good workout. The question is, will I actually get my fat sizeable arse out of bed that early?


My cousin sent me a Visalus shake sample in the mail today. I'm not sold on this whole "shake diet" business, but I told him I'd try a sample. Here's my issue: the "plan" is to replace two meals a day with shakes. However, one packet of the mix is 26g and only 90 calories. So now I'm wondering, is that 180 calories a day + 1 regular meal? 180 calories is not enough to get me through a morning, let alone an entire day. Not to worry, I am not joining the shake diet cult. I just like to be educated on these things. This one seems like a HUGE no-no to me.


Tonight I'm off to volunteer at Sparks! Maybe running around with them will burn some calories ;) I still cannot believe how much energy five-year-old girls have.


Hopefully there is some quality time with my love in my immediate future. It's been days since we even had a meaningful conversation.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Day 7

We're one week into 2012. Are you still on track with your goals?

I'm loving MyFitnessPal. If anyone out there is looking for a good calorie tracker, check it out. The database is AMAZING. It's quite enlightening too, as far as showing carbs vs. fat vs. protein in my diet.

Tonight I am going to the gym. Wish me luck? I flaked yesterday; just couldn't motivate myself to go. So tonight's the night. I'm going to try to do week one of the Couch to 5K. It's a half hour workout. Then I'm FINALLY going to start the push ups and sit ups challenges. For real this time. I promise.

I'm feeling motivated. I can taste the sweetness of victory. I *will* lose this weight. I *will* look hawt again. I *will* feel confident and sexy.

In today's mini goals, I'd like to stop biting my nails. I've been très horrible lately. It's gross. I.Must.Stop.

Cuba in 13!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

MyFitnessPal

Good morning! Happy sunny Sunday.

I bit the bullet this morning and signed up for MyFitnessPal. It seems like a great tracking site. The database is extensive, and the site is user-friendly. I'm starting to track today. So far I've had a Bolthouse mango fruit smoothie. I might have some toast in a bit, or an egg.

Today's going to be a busy day. Movie, gym, cleaning house. Fun times!

I think tracking calories will help me feel in control. I'm hoping I don't get sick of this whole tracking business. If I do, I will focus on my goals. I need to lose weight. I need to feel sexy and confident again. Lately I just feel like a blob. It's not a good feeling.

My plan is not to buy any new clothes until I'm down at least two sizes. I can make do with what I've got for awhile. I probably have enough clothing to get me through winter and spring, but hopefully I can buy some new stuff for summer. On sale, of course. I am still being frugal!

Speaking of frugal, we did groceries last night. I still spent more than I'd have liked, but most of what I got was on sale. Loblaws has amazing $1 sales on this week.

I have greek chicken cooking in the crockpot for supper. I think I'll have it with a salad.

Today's theme is CONTROL. I am in control of my life. I make my decisions. I can achieve my goals. You with me? :)

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Day 5

Happy Saturday!

It's day 5 of the new me and I'm feeling great. I've been eating healthier for the past two days, and I'm working on getting a handle on our finances.


The good I've done in the past two days:
  1. Stuck to my meal plan.
  2. Cooked meals at home rather than spending money on takeout.
  3. Tracked all expenses.
  4. Discussed the best way to budget and gotten some good ideas from my Dad.
  5. Paid off most of my credit card debt.
  6. Talked to boyfriend about my goals and how we can work together to live happily and healthy this year.
  7. Called the bank to make an appointment to discuss our finances.
  8. Made a grocery list - sale items only.
I still need to make an exercise plan and start being more active. Tonight we're going for dinner with friends. Tomorrow I will exercise. I'm also going to clean and organize around the house, which will reduce my stress level in the long run. Organization makes me happy :)


15 sleeps till Cuba! We are so very excited.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

January, you start the year off right...

Happy Friday Part One! A former co-worker used to refer to Thursdays as Friday Part One, and it always made me smile.



I wish I were here to tell you I've been rocking this week. I have, in some ways. But my eating habits haven't been as great as they should be. Case in point: Forgot my lunch today. With limited options at work, I decided to go to the Vietnamese restaurant to get take-out. One order of chicken & shrimp fried rice later and my body's happy with the carbs, but I know it wasn't the healthiest choice.



I'm not focusing on that, though. Just confessing here for accountability's sake ;)



The good things I have done in the past two days:
  1. Tracked expenses. Even though I forgot my breakfast AND lunch this morning, I used my Tim's card for breakfast and coffee so I only spent money on lunch.
  2. Made dinner tonight. Cooked some chicken in pesto and garlic, and had a big salad of romaine, mushrooms and avocado.
  3. Communicated with my boyfriend about feeling a little neglected this week. We're going to have some "us" time this weekend.
  4. Got right back into my job again and have been working hard. The best part? I'm loving it!
  5. Walked 20 min today to catch the bus. Brisk walk, too, no lazy stroll!
Tomorrow's a new day and another chance to eat well. Plus, this weekend I can get back into a gym routine. I'm looking forward to doing some classes again. Maybe I'll even try running! I'd like to be able to run 5K again this spring. My Mom is my motivation these days. She's doing so awesome, working out and losing weight. I'm so proud of her.



In other news, the Mazda is almost done and ready to come home again. For those who don't know, S and I were in an accident in December and the car's been in the shop for almost a month now. We're okay, it was totally the other guy's fault and thank god we weren't hurt. I had a concussion, but I'm okay.



What I've learned from the experience is that it pays to have a good insurance company. Our rep has been AMAZING. She's gone way above and beyond, and I plan on writing her supervisor a letter to that effect. So today's tip of the day from me to you, free of charge, is to choose wisely when you get insurance. It can make all the difference. You'd think efficiency would be enough, but great client service makes things that much easier.
Also, if you have had a good client experience, be sure to make it known. It can make a person's day to hear that you're happy with the service they've provided. So take time to say thank you.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Day One

Today I sort of rocked it :) I'm feeling great. The weather sucks and the darn car wouldn't start this morning, but I stayed on track all day.

Positive things I did today toward achieving my goals:
  1. I stuck to my meal plan
  2. I drank more green tea than coffee
  3. I only spent $2.01 on one cup of coffee in the morning - I saved quite a bit by bringing my own mug from home
  4. I got right into working and rediscovered my love for my job
  5. When I found out about the darn car not starting, I laughed instead of snapping
Overall, I want to have a more positive outlook on life. So what if it's minus a bajillion degrees and that makes me want to hibernate? I'm not going to let winter get me down. In fact, the canal will be opening soon! Yay for skating!

Tonight we're going to visit friends. Boyfriend's not home yet so I'm going to make dinner and some tea and have it ready for him when he gets here. I'll greet him at the door with a hug :)

Monday, January 2, 2012

Tomorrow, tomorrow!

Tomorrow begins another day, my "fresh start." It's the day I get to begin again, forgetting the year before and moving forward with renewed focus and energy.

I bought lots of healthy food. Tomorrow I'll have a smoothie for breakfast, soup and vegetables for lunch, and a salad for dinner. I'd like to eat salad once a day at least five days a week.

Boyfriend and I are starting the Hundred Push Ups and Two Hundred Sit Ups challenges on Wednesday. Check them out here.

Tonight I'm going to track our expenses for the day. We bought food, gas and windshield wiper fluid. Most of the groceries we bought were necessary, but there were a couple "splurges." We did get some good deals. The best part was that we did it together :) Usually I do the shopping alone on a Saturday or Sunday, the busiest days of the week. Tonight it was nice and quiet, so we were able to take our time and both have input into what we were buying for the week.

Day one is almost here. I love the feel of day one. I can do anything; I'm on top of the world!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

I woke up today to a Happy New Year text from one of my favourite bloggers, a woman I am also lucky to call a close friend. She's given me even more motivation to stick to my goals, specifically weight loss. We're doing it together. Now, we have committed to this very thing more than once in the past, and life always seems to get in the way.

This time, however, it feels different. I am 100% confident that we're both going to rock 2012.
Do you have a buddy who cheers you on and supports you in your efforts to achieve your goals?

I've decided to jump back on the weight loss wagon officially on Tuesday. That means planning meals, exercising regularly, and focusing on clean, healthy eating.

We'll be cutting back on dining out and ordering in, both in an effort to be more healthy and to work on saving money and sticking to a budget. I'll be tracking expenses in January, so I can set a realistic budget for the months following.

I just love the first day of a new year. Boyfriend so intelligently pointed out that it's just another day, to which I replied that "it just feels different." It's a chance to erase the past and start fresh. I'm feeling so empowered and motivated to make 2012 the best year yet.

Tomorrow we'll be on the road for most of the day, but I'll post an update on Tuesday. This blog will keep me accountable!