This is Awesome.

Just read this on "Mind Over Platter" blog:

Don't undermine your worth by comparing
yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people
deem important.

Only you know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them
life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers
by living in the past or for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.
It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks.

It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;
and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't dismiss your dreams.

To be without dreams is to be without hope;
to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget
not only where you've been, but also where you're going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored
each step of the way.

~ Nancye Sims ~

Ridgeline Fitness Swiss Ball Lower Body Preview

Just read about this on VideoFitness.com. I think I need it. I have a workout DVD addiction problem.

I am SO AMPED!!

Today was such a great day! Wow! (Aside from the fact that I am planning hundreds of ways I can murder my neighbor's dog who NEVER STOPS BARKING)
Anyway, I've written about my fitness goals - and that is the primary reason for starting this blog anyway, to confirm, validate and offer accountability for my efforts. So today I took the next step in my process - I had the MAP test (Metabolic Assessment Profile) done at Lifetime. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I decided to do this. I finally feel like I have a real way of making my goals happen, because now I will know HOW, WHEN & HOW MUCH etc. I got a new Polar Heart Rate Monitor with the results from my test entered in. I have a 5 day a week cardio program (55 minutes a day) set up and I signed up for 4 sessions with Jay (personal trainer)!! I'm also giving Jay the address for this blog so he can check up on me and what I'm eating. I promised to be a good girl and KICK BUTT and I will!!!

Today was a totally OFF day with food, somewhat to blame because of this test; I was not supposed to eat/drink anything 3 hours prior to the test. So this morning I had my coffee with my last Trader Joes Bran Muffin (won't be doing that anymore for breakfast; switching to Oatmeal/Protein Powder per Jay thank you very much.). That was it. Did the test at 3pm, was there until 4:30pm. Got a call from my mom to show up at Mary Jo's house (neighbor) who was having a girls party. I did and she had an entire HOUSE Of bad nasty FAT FOOD!! Bollocks. It REALLY wasn't that the bad food was tempting, but that I had not eaten a thing since 9am and NEEDED TO EAT. I had 2 slices of red pepper dipped in dill dip. I had diet coke. And then I had some baked pita chips dipped in an artichoke dip and yes the artichoke dip was made with MAYO SOUR CREAM AND PARM CHEESE. However, I had approximately 1/2 cup. I had 2 Hershey Kiss size dark chocolate truffles on the way out. By the time I got home I felt like, wow I had NOTHING good for me. So I made 1/2 cup oatmeal with protein powder and a cup of coffee. And thanks to the neighbor's )%$(#*)$#@*%)@#* DOG, who has been barking for an hour and a half straight, I just took 2 Excedrin PM. I want to strangle that piece of white furry demon devil nightmare. Ok, I have some anger issues to deal with. Sue me.
;-)
I'm off to read some fitness blogs.

Serious Manjoyment

Slider. Really. Does it get any better?

ROCK SUPERSTAR

oh YEA. I went to the gym today after a healthy dose of family drama (that incidentally made me want to leap off a cliff) and ran for 45 MINUTES!!!! Yea! I'm a rock star. I was averaging 5.0mph most of the time, then I did 5.2, at the last 2 minutes I did 6.0. Then I ran into Jay who is doing my map test tomorrow. He is also going to analyze my nutrition and tell me how and what to eat to best reach my goals. How sweet is that. I'm going to sign up for a few sessions with him to get started also.

I'm not in the mood to blab much tonight, so more later!

Peace Out!

Protein And Such

I'm getting ready to order my protein powder, and thought I would share a couple of great resources (These will also be in the "Links" section at the bottom of this blog, FYI) for ordering nutritional stuff online and saving big. If you try to go to some joke place like GNC or Vitamin Shoppe you will pay like double, it is obscene.

For one, try www.netrition.com. I've ordered from them for years and they are very reliable and have a massive selection. Also I have ordered from www.discountanabolics.com . More later.

TGIF

Talk about SNOW. We have like 1/2 foot of snow! But, I kicked MAJOR BOOTY yesterday. Wow, its so good to be on a fitness high and going onwards and upwards! (is that spelled right?) Anyway, last night I went to the gym (fighting my inner demon that said, oh its cold out and dark out, just go home and do a half-a** workout) and ran for 30 minutes (5.2mph most of the time; I had eaten at work like 45 minutes prior)! Then I did the Strictly Strength Class at the gym which was great as usual. THEN I signed up for the map test they've been talking about for a while ~ you get attached to this oxygen machine thingy and do cardio (walking/running) for 20 minutes or so while they measure your oxygen/co2 input/output so you know what your best fat burning zone is etc. I'm very excited about it, and I also got the new Polar Heart Rate Monitor, into which they will feed my results so I am totally on track. I have two tests, so I will be taking a 2nd follow up test in like May or something to see how I've progressed. It's all about accountability right?

I'm going to do some more reading this weekend but I think I've figured out thus far to eat something small/carby prior to workouts, ideally a banana. Then post workout is protein/carb.

Yesterday's action was:

1. Breakfast: Coffee/Bran Muffin
2. Mid-Morning: Oats/Protein
3. Lunch: Turkey Meatloaf/Broccoli
4. Peppermint Patty
5. Banana/Natural PB (1/2 TBS)
6. Starbucks Venti Soy Latte
7. Mc Donalds Hamburger (pre workout...not a great choice but was stomach hungry! Dang that crappy little thing is 250 calories. Of course the bun alone is 150 calories. Duh)
8. Post Workout; Muffin
9. Total Calories Consumed: 1920 Yowza
10. Total Calories Burned in Workout: 650 Nice.

Today's Activity:

1. Breakfast Coffee/Bran (315)
   
2. Oats/Protein (280)
   
3. 1 Truffle (75)
   
4. Small Piece of Turkey Meatloaf (100)
   
5. Coffee/Muffin (315)
   
6. Whole Wheat Toast w/1/2 TBS Natural PB/Sugar Free Jelly (225)
7. TOTAL: 1310
8. Workout: Off
9. Also, I am not going to hide it, I'm having some crab rangoons for dinner. Yum. Today is totally workout off day and indulge day. Tomorrow I'll be doing cardio and weights, will do a killer workout and calorie deficit day to balance this day out. Technically Christmas Day was a cheat meal, but all I Had there was one serving of trifle. I didn't eat any ham, had some baked sweet potato with sugar free syrup and a few bites of broccoli. Worked out that day and ate healthy all day. So I don't see that as a real cheat day. BUT still I'm giving myself ONE LITTLE EXTRA ALLOWANCE THIS LAST WEEK OF 2007.
   

ROCK ON, I SO ROCK.

I kicked major buttocks today!! MAJOR!! I'm so proud of myself. I was analyzing and planning for my goals this weekend and decided I would really focus on running and on ideally getting good enough to start marathons. So I decided I would start tracking every run in an excel spreadsheet; how long, for what MPH and calories burned etc. When you can see and track progress, how cool and motivating is that?
So today was my first official day of that in a way. I went to the gym, and ran for 40 MINUTES!!! I was at 5.2 mph for 90% of the time, 5.5 for a bit. Now I've gotten up to 6mph before for bits of time but for a week at least, I want to focus on being able to run at that pace for that long. By 35 minutes I was beginning to cramp a tad and my calves were dying. I did stop 2x for about 30 seconds and had a few gulps of water. Also I had eaten 1/2 of a big sweet potato about 2 hours prior...not sure if that had any bearing either way. I had 1/2 protein bar after (I need to research again what is best right after working out, because I do tend to be famished..is it protein or carbs?) and just now after my bath I had a bran muffin. I'm hungry. I'm not going to obsess because I'm in a great place today. Here is the rundown:

• Breakfast: Coffee/Muffin (215)
  
• Apple (85)
  
• Oatmeal/Protein Powder (280)
  
• Chinese Beef with Broccoli (lunch portion) (350)
  
• 1/2 sweet potato (150)
  
• 1/2 protein bar (150)
• Bran Muffin (240)
• TOTAL: 1470
• Workout: Burned 465 calories!
  

I ROCK I ROCK I ROCK I ROCK. 14 Weeks until Punta Cana Baby!!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
The season of fudge, eggnog and fruitcake is nearing the end! I have to say, I've been very restrained in indulging this year! But that is also because of my unfortunate discovery of possibly gaining a few pounds last month, it made me all the more aware of NOT going nutty this month and gaining an ounce!!
Anyway, sometimes it is REALLY annoying how much knowledge is "out there" and how much tends to be contradictory. For example, on a personal level, I am interested in figuring out the solution for my lower body goals. Recently I have deducted that using heavier weights makes me gain muscle very rapidly in my legs, which is contrary to what I am aiming for which is to lean out my legs. Oddly enough, within 24 hours I have read 2 totally different suggestions on this general idea (i.e. lift heavy with less reps vs. lift lighter with more reps), all from experts in the field of fitness/nutrition. Read below.

On Skwigg's blog (http://skwigg.tripod.com/blog) she has a review of the book, The New Rules of Lifting For Women. "What are these "new rules" you ask? Well there are over 20 of them, but allow me to share a couple of my favorites. The purpose of lifting weights is to build muscle. THANK YOU!! The purpose is not to tone, tighten, sculpt, lengthen, firm, spot reduce, de-jiggle, banish trouble spots, or any of the other idiotic euphemisms that women's publications normally use to trick women into lifting; the purpose of lifting weights is to build muscle (duh!). Another one of my very favorites is Calorie restriction is the worst idea ever. Clearly, I'm all over that one. Back in my diet ninny years, I was a hungry flabby mess. As long as I dieted, I sagged. Now that I eat often and eat well, I'm lean and strong. Funny how that works! Another of my favorite rules - No workout will make you taller. It addresses the women who are desperately trying to "lengthen" themselves in pilates class or by following a supermodel's stay-slim toning program. It's followed by an explanation of muscle physiology that ought to dispel any fears about accidentally getting hyoooge. Loved the example (complete with measurements) of what happens to a woman who gains 9 pounds of lean mass."
Ok so then last night in Allure magazine they have an article called "Slim Gym" (Brooke Le Poer Trench author- don't want to plagiarize here) They interview several well known trainers and their main suggestions are:
1) Eat something before working out to fuel your body (this is one thing I've been horrible on, I'm always trying to workout on a totally empty stomach to avoid cramping. Oddly enough, I am learning that might be my own myth since I'm actually running better without cramps after eating something an hour prior.) 2) Use the treadmill for cardio as it works your body the hardest. It is too easy to slack on the other machines because your body controls the exertion. 3) ***Focus on REPS NOT WEIGHT.*** Here is the contradiction part; They say that the old school train of thought is to train like a bodybuilder, lifting heavy and pausing between sets. They say to focus on more reps not necessarily heavier weights, to "strain the muscle, not cause it to tear and then repair so that it becomes larger and more pronounced" They say to get "lean", go with a weight you can do 20 reps with but be challenged by the last 3-4 reps. They also say that functional training, using your own body weight is just as effective 4) They recommend circuit type training, a la Aerobic Weight Training etc. - bursts of cardio in between weight sessions.

See how a girl can get confused? Maybe it still is true that you need to take this knowledge and use what works for YOU, since we are all individuals. For me, I'm going to be very diligent and track the next 4-8 weeks - what I'm doing and the results I get. And since I will be taking my measurements weekly, I should be able to see if it is going in the right direction (i.e. losing inches) before freaking out. My plan is to go heavy on upper body, work my core more and stick with lighter weights on lower body and incorporate more running overall.

Let's see how it goes!!
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Sunday

It is so cold and nasty outside!!! Anyway, I wanted to make note of a few of my new goals that I want to incorporate. Actually I'd say they are more like Practices or Habits I want to fully incorporate into my life.

1. Weekly Measurements. Since I don't weigh myself, I really should measure myself weekly. The thing that has really ticked me off this month was the "sudden" feeling that my trousers were tight in the bum area. Now this happened to me one other time when I was seriously overtraining. I was going very heavy on weights and also doing way too much working out in general; 2 hours or more a day. I think what happened is that I started gaining muscle but hadn't lost fat....regardless, I stayed away from heavier weights for lower body. Recently, after moving into my new house (late October), I started going heavy on weights again. Now I don't know if it is THAT or the fact that I have to be honest and say that my diet was not as clean as I'm doing now.....whatever, I clearly didn't see and/or feel that I had put on a few pounds and then WHAM its like I could SEE it and FEEL it and was disturbed, disraught, devastated, nauseous, angry, bitter, pissed off, enraged, etc. You get the point. This CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I must get BETTER and not ever take two steps back!! So, by measuring myself weekly I can see progress and God forbid if I were to be bad, I would notice it sooner than now.
   
2. Flossing. Enough Said.
3. Daily Meditation/Prayer. More of it.
   
4. More Vegies. Fruit is easy, vegies Need more creativity. We'll work on that.
   
5. Revenge on all my enemies. LOL

I'm off to relax for a bit. Stay Warm!

Only a Man

Jonny Lang is one of my all time favorites and this song is just so profound.

SHAME SHAME OH SHAME

I'm sitting in my house enjoying a nice night in before the hoo-ha of the holidays (and all the drama - but that's another story! LOL) and I wanted, kept thinking about something sweet. Of course I have nothing in my house sweet and all I had eaten today was:

• coffee/muffin breakfast
• turkey meatloaf lunch
• bran muffin (can you tell I like these things?)
• turkey meatloaf dinner
• coffee
• then......

I actually MADE A BATCH OF COOKIE DOUGH. Yes,you are a witness to my shame. I made it and had literally a few bites and my friend GD (garbage disposal) enjoyed the rest. Seriously, it made me ill. I truly think the further away I get from sugar i.e. not eating it, then when I do, I realize how icky it makes me feel. It was GROSS!! I almost wanted to throw up! But I'm glad in a sick, twisted, ocd kind of way.

I am noticing results in the mirror, so I am staying on track for a kick butt year. Punta Cana for my birthday in April! And my abs will be popping!!!

;-)

$@#)%&*@)#%&@)^&)@^& RANT

It REALLY GETS ON MY LAST NERVE WHEN TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T WORK. My blasted DVD player is now randomly freezing - and it chose to do so in the middle of my Jari Love workout this morning! Blast it!! Bollocks!! (I'm starting my don't swear goal thing right now so I'm substituting British words often. They sound nice and are kind of swearing without swearing really.)
It also bugs me that a hard weights only workout doesn't burn the calories like aerobics does. This morning's workout was about 50 minutes, and very good but only 175 calories. Rats! Phooey! Darnit. Cheese & Rice!! oh dear that sounds delicious.
LOL

212 degrees - The Extra Degree

Look at this every day.

Saturday Morning

I have several things to blab about this morning. Yesterday was a bit of a weird day, eating-wise. I really feel a LOT better about "addressing" my impulsive eating habits and gaining control over food and myself in general. (Wow that is sounding a bit too Dr. Phil but oh well...) So I was off yesterday, had my coffee and muffin and then did a kick butt Taebo workout (one of the OLD ONES). I had a sweet potato and 4 Trader Joes Dumplings before heading out. I met my mom for some last minute shopping, then went to Trader Joes to pick up more of my muffins. On the way, it was by this time about 3pm, so I was STOMACH hungry and wanted beef. Went through the Fradillios drive through and got a burger with ketchup/mustard only. I did eat the whole thing and was not too full or anything. I do not feel bad about doing the burger thing once in a while; the funny thing about it is I usually used to order a cheeseburger but honestly, you cannot even TASTE the cheese so why order it? Anyway I got to Trader Joes and they had all this chocolate crap out and I bought my old favorite, these dark organic chocolate caramels. Confession time. I have been known in the past to buy this box of gems and eat an entire box before the sunset. (That would translate to about 1000 calories FYI). So I had about 3-4 of these big yummy divine candies...and (Linda if you are reading this cover your eyes) I threw the rest of the box away. I KNEW if I had that at home that the "forbidden fruit" thing would call out to me and I would eat them or continue to eat them until I fed them to my garbage disposal. (my friend Miranda says my garbage disposal eats better than most third world countries) So, part of me wants to be able to have this kind of temptation in my house and not give in to it, but part of me says, Good Lord I can't be perfect.....I think in general its best to not have crap in the house right?
Ok, what else? I got home, wrapped presents while listening to Christmas music. I think I had a 2nd Trader Joes muffin. Yea I'm sure I did. And some coffee. I also previewed this new DVD I got from Hemalayaa - Kama Sutra Dance. I'm very into these dance DVDs now because you are doing cardio, perhaps some lighter cardio but you are getting groovy with it and doing something different. I want to take Salsa lessons in 2008 with the girls, how fun is that?? The Kama Sutra DVD looks fabulous for the spice girl in you. I also read, or read most of Skinny Bitch. Um I get it, but I'm in NO WAY able to become vegan. Here is the summary of the book: Don't eat any meat or meat by-products. No caffeine, no sugar, no white stuff. No dairy. UM LETS SEE THAT LEAVES FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND RICE. Add a few other things that cost about 2 trillion $$$ to create and you too can be "skinny". I think I'll get skinny my way. I'll sell the book on Amazon. I got it 50% off at least. Hee hee.
Well this morning is Laura's great class at the gym (Strictly Strength). My sister and I go on Thursday nights and Saturday mornings.
Gotta run.
Kick Butt Today Girls!!! KICK BUTT!

Momentum

Nothing like MOMENTUM, right? I've caught it!! Of course, momentum and motivation can go in polar opposite directions.....the trick is in getting it going in the right direction!
I just did an old Taebo favorite video (yes ouch they are only on VHS!!) and burned 350 calories!! And I was this morning mentally saying, well maybe I'll take today off, I have stuff to do...blah blah whine whine blah blah. NO! I did it and I'm so glad! Off to shower and get ready to face the day kicking BUTT!!!
;-)

Catch Up

Ok, so I have been bad this week at recording my meals and such. So here is some overdue catch up, based on my scribbles on my notepads.

Monday:

1. Breakfast: Coffee/Muffin
2. Apple
3. 2 Bran Crisp Crackers w/Laughing Cow Cheese
4. Lunch: 2 Boca Burgers, Sweet Potato, Broccoli
   
5. Coffee
6. Almonds
7. Almond Butter/Sugar Free Jam
8. Total: 1300

Tuesday:

1. Breakfast: Coffee/Muffin
2. Apple
3. Banana w/1/2 TBS Natural PB
4. Tuna Salad, sweet potato
5. 2 peppermint patty
6. coffee
7. Cheat Meal: 5 oz filet mignon, 1 piece bread in olive oil, some salad, shared dessert with dad, coffee, 2 glasses cabernet.

Wednesday:

1. Coffee/Muffin
2. Banana/Natural PB (1/2 tbs)
3. string cheese/almonds
4. Salad (Buffalo Chicken Salad)
5. Coffee
6. Protein Shake/Broccoli/Cheese
7. Total: 1625

Thursday:

1. Coffee/Muffin
2. Apple
3. Banana/PB
4. Broccoli/Cheese, Canned Pears
5. 2 peppermint patty
6. Tuna Salad
7. Muffin
8. 1600 Total
   

Hump Day

Happy Hump Day! I'm SO delayed in blogging, I'm a bad girl I know. But I've kicked diet/workout butt this week! Worked out and ate right Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday day. Had dinner with Dad on Wednesday night, so that was my "cheat day" - I had 1 piece of bread, 2 glasses of Cabernet, filet, a few bites of his Gnocchi (OMG), some salad, and we shared a dessert. No Overeating. No feeling way too full!! And today!!! GOOD LORD!! My co-worker brought in RED VELVET CUPCAKES TO WORK!! A major weakness. MAJOR. BIG TIME. I wanted to justify having just one but I kept talking myself out of it and I DIDN'T CAVE IN! AND went to the gym and ran for 35 minutes straight! 300 Calories burned!!! So now I am going to go eat a cake. Just kidding.
;-)

Sofia Nike

Oh yea.

Sunday

I just re-read this on Tracy's Blog (http://tracyjojeffries.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html) :

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.

I can be a bit of a Quote-a-Holic, so beware, this blog will tend to have many. But that is just sooo true, isn't it? For the record, for my record, I am committed to getting more fit than I've ever been. I'm committed to exceeding my goals. I am committed to doing whatever it takes. I'm committed to doing what I've never done to get what I've never had. I'm committed to seeing myself the way God does, instead of constantly berating myself for failing to achieve. I'm committed to raising the bar in every area of my life, to doing more, being more, becoming more and sharing more.

I did great today. And on top of that, I did great today with TTOM arriving 12 days early! What's up with that?

Also, shout out to My Mom who lost 2 pounds!!! Yippee!! And Sherry who is rocking and Miranda who lost 5 pounds. I gained 20!! Just kidding. ;-)

Today I had Coffee with Trader Joe's Bran Muffin for breakfast. I then had turkey meatloaf for lunch. Was out Christmas shopping and had a Venti Starbucks and then tonight I had Trader Joe's Chicken Dumplings with a sweet potato. What I'm most happy with today is that I ate when my stomach was hungry, not my mind. If I left it up to my mind, I would eat Oreos and Olive Garden all day long. And look like the Hindenburg too.

I also am planning to make myself a lovely big cup of Starbucks in a few, so my breakdown should be about 1250 Calories.

Oh! I almost forgot, I did a great new workout tonight - Squeeze from Tracy Effinger; really a different workout. Definitely one I will be doing on non-weight days. Take a peek at www.squeezebytracy.com . I think my legs will be crying for mercy tomorrow. Ouch in a good way.

Goodnight!

Get Ripped

These are killer workouts.

Jari Love Get Ripped to the Core

This is Jari. Her workouts are killer.

Thursday

Yea! Another day, another Whoo Hoo for me. And my gals!!! Miranda is rockin! Sherry is like um, how do I get that "no hunger" thing in a pill? And my mom is kicking butt too!! Yay!!

It is 9pm so I will be brief. Here's my rundown today, and I also decided that I'm going to go BACK to lower weights on lower body. I think I bulk way too easy on my legs and that is precisely where I am trying to tone down. I cannot wait to get some Under Armour wear so I can run outside. I am quitting my gym since it is too expensive. Going to focus on working out at home and running outside.

;-)

1. Breakfast: Trader Joes Muffin/Coffee (315)
2. Orange: (85)
3. Apple: (75)
4. Lunch: 2 Boca Burgers With American Cheese (340)
5. Broccoli/Cheese (60)
6. Sugar Free Pudding (60)
7. Coffee (75)
8. Small Serving of Turkey Meatloaf (150)
9. 1/2 Ice Cream Cookie (100)
10. Peppermint Patty (50)
11. SBUX (220)
12. Total 1530
13. Workout: Jari Love, ended with focus on shoulders

I was TOTALLY not in the vibe to workout tonight. But I did and had a good workout! And I can totally see a change in the mirror, after tightening up my diet the past 5 days or so. That's amazing. Or maybe I just became sane after the weekend? Who knows?

;-)

Wednesday

Good Lord. I tried to do some Christmas shopping tonight. I think I burned 200 calories getting pissed off!! There are some bitter people out there who cut in line and also steal parking places.

I also went to Trader Joes and stocked up on my favorites, including the best bran/fiber muffins known to man. And the checkout boy was CHECKING ME OUT if you know what I mean. I have some kind of an odd pheremone going on that seems to be attracting men/boys in their 20's ~ what is UP with that?

Here is today's menu that I ROCKED with:

• Breakfast: Protein Shake/Coffee (275)
• Orange/Apple: (160)
• Sugar free Suisse Mocha (150)
• Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad (ate pretty much the meat dipped into about 1 tps blue cheese) (500?)
• 2 Sugar Free Puddings (120)
• 1/2 Trader Joes Muffin (120)
• Starbucks (220)
• 1/2 TBS Almond Butter/Sugar Free Jam 75
• Approximately 1650 Calories
• No workout today.
  

Honestly, my biggest "weakness" right now is working at an office. I'm used to being on the road for business and that takes up so much of my day. When my day is all in one place and you work in front of a computer, you tend to need a visual break and where do I go? There's nowhere to go but the kitchen! Ugh!!!

Working on it though!

Tuesday

Another day of butt kicking success! I'm telling you, once you get on a roll, you can LOSE rolls LOL that was funny. Anyway, here is my day:

1. Breakfast: Coffee/Protein Shake (250)
2. Orange (85)
3. Baked Apple (75)
4. Turkey Meatloaf/Sugar Free Pudding/Broccoli & Cheese (375)
5. Sugar Free Suisse Mocha (150)
6. Sugar Free Pudding (60)
7. Turkey Meatloaf (250)
8. 3/4 Trader Joes Chicken Egg Roll (100)
9. Coffee (75)
   
10. Total: 1420
11. Workout: 30 minutes Taebo and 45 minutes Jari Love
    

Feeling fabulous. Our company Christmas party is this Saturday. I'm not going to drink for various reasons but mostly for calories. I'm just in the mode, gotta keep it going.
;-)

Munday Night

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel about 20x FATTER than the day before? THAT IS TODAY. I hate how one mirror can make you look fabulous and then like an IDIOT you look in another mirror and I resemble The Titanic. And it is NOT TTOM. So yea.......Anyway, all of this being pissed off would normally make me want to eat some Krispy Kremes or something extraordinarily fattening but NO. I will not. I watched my Sydney Bristow montage and decided against it.

"TO GET WHAT YOU'VE NEVER HAD YOU MUST DO WHAT YOU'VE NEVER DONE."

I love that. Really this can apply to any part of your life, and especially to fitness goals. I am facing right now what I faced a while back....I've been going heavy on my weights and feel that I'm definitely gaining muscle before losing fat. So I'm trying to add back in more cardio and keep weight days the same. And then I'm getting REALLY paranoid about food too. In the past, what has worked for me is to eat less, (duh) but cut out the 'fake foods' and sugar, eating more protein. So all that being said, when I feel like my dang black pants are TIGHTER (is this muscle gain or gain.....Obsession time) it makes me think, is this because I am eating oatmeal for breakfast again? Perhaps I cut that out and go back to mostly protein/fruit/vegies and one cheat day/meal.

IT will be so nice to REACH MY GOAL so I don't have to analyze this crap until I'm losing my mind!!!

Here is today's summary:

• Breakfast: Coffee, 1/2 cup oatmeal with Protein Powder (380 Calories)
• Snack: Orange (85)
• Apple (75)
• Lunch: Turkey Meatloaf/Broccoli Cheese (310)
• Sugar Free Suisse Mocha (150)
• Fat Free Black Beans/Salsa/Sour Cream (300)
• Coffee (75)
• TOTAL: 1375
• Workout: 1/2 hour Taebo (LAME)

I'm thinking I will cut out the oatmeal for a while and stick to what I KNOW works - then gradually introduce that back in when I'm feeling good about my progress.
And now I'm going to make a batch of cookie dough and eat the whole thing.
Just kidding.

Alias - Sydney Bristow action montage

My Favorite Show of All Time. And hello, does Jennifer Garner not kick major ass?

Case of the MUNDAYS

Proud to report that it is 12pm and I am kicking major buttocks. Well that's actually sad that I'm excited at only 12pm but heck, anything to create and keep momentum going. And I've been up since 6am!
Also, for those of you that are unaware, I am at work where within 10 feet of me at all times are the following temptations from the deepest pitts of hell:

• Pop Tarts
• Peanut M&Ms
• Regular M&Ms
• Peppermint Patties
• Dove Chocolate
• Tollhouse Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
• Popsicles
• Peanut Butter
• Bread
• Every kind of granola bar
• chips
• Snickers
• Crackers
• Frosted Flakes Cereal
• On Wednesdays, they bring in frosted donuts and sometimes bagels with cream cheese.

May the force be with me. I'm fine. I'm dreaming of a land without muffin tops. Not that I have one, but I'm eliminating the possibility of one ever forming.

Yeaaaaaa........

The Man Cold

OMG so true

Sweet Success

Well, at 5:30pm, I have made it through a day (that sounds relatively pathetic, but whatever) and stayed on course. I had coffee this morning and then did 40 minutes of Taebo + Cathe Butts N Gutts (see www.cathe.com to watch a preview....whoa!!!). For lunch I had tuna salad and broccoli/cheese. Had another cup of coffee mid-afternoon (i.e. clearly a favorite thing of mine) and then made my favorite turkey meatloaf - YUM. I had 1/2cup black beans/salsa/sour cream to tide me over while the turkey was cooking. Then I had a portion of meatloaf just now. Didn't do as well on chugging my water today, but I'm just now grabbing my bottle to make up for lost time.

I thought about some positive motivation/negative discouragement to keep reminding myself of:

• Gaining weight is LIMITING. When you gain weight, less of your clothes fit and if you are like me, you don't want to leave the house and do anything.
• Losing weight is FREEING. Suddenly EVERYTHING in your closet fits and looks BETTER and you feel great about doing anything!
• Bingeing on bad food feels good for a nano-second. Then comes the guilt, followed by failure, followed by weight gain, more guilt, more failure and lost time.
• NOT bingeing and doing something else makes you feel stronger, you have more momentum and motivation to keep going. Because you don't give in, you stay on track, lose weight and then see the above benefit!
  
• There is not much of a better feeling than getting fit and healthy. There pretty much isn't a worse feeling than not being able to zip your favorite jeans or having to wear (GASP) fat jeans!!

I'm off to enjoy more of my relaxing Sunday afternoon. This week is supposed to be horrid weather, go figure, so that's all the more reason to have a kick butt workout week!!!

Start NOW.

Today is Sunday, the first official day of blog posting. My good friend Sherry started her blog and since we do everything fitness-related together, I had to follow suit. I put Start NOW as my title because one of the worst things anyone can do in trying to reach fitness goals/diet goals/health goals is to put off starting. If you just ate 2 pints of Ben & Jerrys Cherry Garcia (um I did not but I certainly have in the past, and last night I did have a number of Crab Rangoons. Curses that Chinese food places deliver. Curses!), you must NOT give yourself the ok to continue chowing down until Monday. I've learned this the hard way ~ if you give in to "failure", you will continue to fail.

Good Quote:

"Whether You Think You Will Fail, Or Not, You Are Right."

I can do ANYTHING that I set my mind to. And I am setting my mind to exceeding my goals. I want to IMPROVE my diet, IMPROVE my level of fitness, lose X amount of weight (I don't weigh myself) so that I am 2 sizes smaller (size 4, am currently 6/8) by summer and get RIPPED. I have many signs of ripped-ness already, now its time to carve it up as Jari Love says (www.jarilove.com - great workouts).

And if you are even THINKING about waiting until the new year to start on YOUR goals, give that up. START NOW.

;-)