What I know

Frustrated.  That is how I am feeling right now.  Fat and frustrated.  I have been following this fueling plan for over two weeks now and have gained 4 lbs.  Not ok with me.  I don't care what is all going on, all I know is my clothes are getting tighter and this is ending.  I'm going back to what I know.  I did Weight Watchers successfully for about a year and lost nearly 30 lbs, only to gain about 10 of it back in the last 6 months.  I blame it on grad school...but I can try and blame it on whatever I want.  What it comes down to is getting back in the mind frame that nothing will sway me from my goal.  When I truly set my mind to something, nothing is going to get in my way. So....GET OUT OF MY WAY!!

Yesterday I had to run to Ulta to pick up some Mineral Veil and I also had a points coupon to use.  I was a level 6 which only means one thing...I spend too much money at Ulta!  Anyways I had been trying to decide what kind of self-tanner I wanted to try this year...looking for one that looks natural and not orange.  I had a long discussion with one of the girls that work there and we settled on Xen-Tan.

Not only was it something I could get for free with my level 6 points, but she said it ABSOLUTELY looks natural.  I put it on after I got home and showered and I was pleasantly surprised!  It had a nice scent (not nasty like most self-tanners) and a nice instant bronzer.  Not to mention it didn't come off on my clothes at all the rest of the day.  This is a great product and  I will definitely continue using it!!

I also picked up the Red Carpet gel nail kit...

I have been getting the shellac manicures for some time at the nail salon (pic on right) and love how long they last, but at $25 (+tip) a pop, every two weeks, this doesn't really fit into my money saving plan.  SO, I have been waiting on reviews for this product.  It has been out for some times and I picked the girls brains at ULTA about how people have liked it.  Nothing but good reviews!  PLUS I can use any brand of gel nail poish...doesn't have to be the Red Carpet line.  Sally Beauty has a great selection so I am excited to try some different colors.  I haven't tried it yet because I just got mine done Tuesday, but I'll let you know.

Last review...new sunglasses.  I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of sunglasses to wear while running.  I finally purchased these babies

Oakley Drizzle...LOVE THEM!  I've worn them twice now running and they do not move one.  I get so sick of having to readjust my sunglasses while running and these babies don't move!!  Not to mention they give great coverage and have a nice crisp view.

Of course, I must include a pic of Tred.

He is such a good boy and we recently discovered that he has figured out how to run with me.  He will trot along right next to me and not pull...SO excited to run with him!!  I am not going to try it on long runs, but I think he would do fine with 3 or 4 milers.  YEAH!!!  Speaking of runs, I biffed it yesterday...

Well, time to eat some breakfast and get ready for my run.  8 miles today and in the 70+ degree weather!!  This is insane!!  We are getting May weather in March.  LOVE IT!!!  Hope you have a wonderful day :D

b

Crunch time

I'm sitting here on the couch watching The Bachelor- The Women Tell All...I should be putting finishing touches on my presentation I have to give tomorrow..I should be taking my dog for a walk in the BEAUTIFUL weather outside...I should be doing anything but sitting here blogging and watching tv.  I have time...I'll get to it in a minute.

First off, I want to address that this is the 14th anniversary of my father's passing.  He was 42 years old this day in 1998 when he suffered a massive heart attack that killed him.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was at my twin-friends house for their birthday (sleepover) when their dad came downstairs where we were hanging out and said my parents (mom and step-dad) were coming to get me.  I had a sick feeling come over me and I knew...nothing had to be said, but I knew it was my dad and that it was not good.  We packed up quickly and made a fast trip south trying to beat some bad weather.

I would like to think that I try and live a healthy lifestyle because of him.  My father did not make the best choices when it came to his "habits" which ultimately led to his untimely death.  It would be foolish of me to not learn from his mistakes.  I love you dad, and miss you terribly!!

Ok, enough sappiness.  I have been following my sister's newly discovered "fueling plan" for nearly a week now and I must say I'm feeling good.  I have more energy than I have had in a long time...I don't find myself wanting to sleep all day anymore and my runs/workouts have been so much more intense since I have the energy to push myself harder!  I had been trying really hard to stay away from the scale for the first few weeks, but I gave in yesterday and stepped on.  It showed I had gained some weight so I broke down and immediately messaged my sister for a quick reality check.  "Quit weighing yourself every day!!" she told me. I know, I know.  I hadn't weighed myself in almost a week, but with such a drastic change in my eating I need to give my body time to respond.  She reminded me of when I did Farrell's, how they tell you not to weigh yourself for those first 5 weeks.  AND that there may even be a weight GAIN within that time frame as you build more muscle (because there is actually fuel to allow them to grow).  Not to mention the fact that I had eaten two meals prior to weighing myself and I normally do it first thing in the morning when I get up. SO...I am not going to weigh myself again for 4 more weeks...

I really do need to get this presentation finished up.  It's supposed to be in the 60's today and I have a run date with my aunt this afternoon.  I would like to not have to do anything this evening that has to do with school so I must get to work.  Tomorrow marks the final night for this current class...and I will officially be HALFWAY DONE with my program!!!

Fueled body and mind!

As you have noticed I have been having an internal battle with myself.  I know I had gained back about 6 pounds since I started graduate school, and weight watchers just wasn't doing the trick for me anymore.  I had hit a plateau and was stuck.  I had even resorted to trying a few fad diets...I'm not sure what I was thinking.  I guess what it comes down to is that my brain wasn't functioning at optimal level because I was STARVING myself!

I had a nice little wake up from my sister.  She recently blogged about similar problems she had been having.  She had mentioned to me in prior conversations that she had finally figured it out, but it wasn't until I read her post that it was clear.  DUH!  I know this stuff.  I've done it on several different levels...

Many years ago I participated in a bodybuilding competition and I ate very similar to this.  Also, a few years ago I did the Farrell's program, which also incorporated this way of eating.  What it comes down to is taking responsibility.  

I was laying in bed the other night and it finally came to me.  Why on earth would I think that drinking a few shakes a day would be the way to lose weight?!  That would be so few calories and I was already having problems with not eating enough calories.  I, too, was in starvation mode and my body was holding on to everything.  I'm not knocking these other programs, I'm sure they work for some people...just not me.  I need food.  I need fuel. 

I felt an immediate difference in my energy level when I started eating again.  Not to mention I love the fact that I always knew I could eat again 3 hours from now.  and the FREE DAY!!!  Man, I love the free day.  Sure, when I was doing weight watchers and whatever else, I would enjoy a treat here and there, but I always felt guilty about it.  On the free day there is no guilt.  

I really should get back to working on my presentation, but I felt the need to update after that last post.  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and have  a good week ahead!!

Day one down

I'm sitting here watching the Biggest Loser.  Something about this show always makes me want to just pack up what I'm doing and go to the gym.  How could you not feel that way when you are watching people transform their lives...

Speaking of...I made it through my first day and I must say I don't feel too bad. Here is what I ate today...

Breakfast: Smoothie
Lunch: Veggie sub on wheat with lettuce, sprouts, pickles, tomatoe, yellow mustard and provolone & Baked Lays
Snack: Zone Perfect Perfectly Simple Peanut Crunch bar (If you haven't seen these YUM!! only 6 ingredients!)
Dinner: Smoothie
Snack: 2 tbsp hummus with sandwich thin (toasted in the oven with garlic) & 2 clementines

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the last few days in anticipation of getting back on track.  I've done this.  I know this.  I need to figure out something that is sustainable and not just a short term thing.  Here is what I am proposing.  I completed Ferrell's a few years back and the eating regimen I did with that was 6 days of strict eating and one cheat day.  I'm thinking this is what I need to do again.  I have a hard time giving things up but when I go with the "everything in moderation" plan I have a little bit of a lot of things I shouldn't be having.  If I know I have a day where I can eat what I want then it won't be a bit deal!  What I'm trying to decide between though, is  a cheat day vs. cheat meal.  Which is the better way to go?

Overwhelmed...and overweight

So, let's just say that the "freshman 15" doesn't necessarily apply only to college freshman.  Here I am, halfway through my grad school program, and it appears I have gained about 10 lbs since I started.  All that weight I worked so hard to get off...ugh.

School has been overwhelming, to say the least, and I am up all hours of the night and up early in the morning.  Burning the candle at both ends, as they say.  I'm finding myself exhausted and unmotivated.  It is all I can do to drag myself to the gym...I've been doing it but after a lot of convincing from myself!

 I've been trying to be strict with Weight Watchers again but have struggled.  They dropped the daily points again and I am struggling to feel satisfied.  I find myself constantly grazing, looking for something to eat.  One thing I have been doing recently is making a protein smoothie for breakfast, and maybe for another meal later in the day.  I have perfected my recipe and look forward to drinking it every day.  BUT, again, I don't feel like it sticks with me!  I have been using the EAS Lean 15 protein powder...low in calories and sugar.  It is good but just doesn't satisfy me.  So, I have been on the lookout for what to do next.  My miles are gradually increasing so I find myself hungrier.  This is only going to get worse.

My friend had been telling me about this meal replacement shake mix that she had been using with success.  It has crazy nutrients in it and she says it keeps her satisfied.  She has been replacing two meals a day with the shake, including healthy snacks and a well balanced dinner.  What the hell.

What's the difference?  I asked her.  Why can't I just keep using the protein powder I've been buying from Target?  Here is the difference...this is the nutrition equivalent you get in one shake...

13 eggs
1.5 cups brocccoli
5 peaches
2 chicken breasts
1.5 cup froyo
1.5 cup bran flakes
18 oz. tomato juice
5 oz. cheddar cheese
3 cup cooked lima beans (YUCK!!)
15 slices wheat bread
20 asparagus spears
2 cups mushrooms
30 apples
10 stalks celery
3 tomatoes
3 pineapples
30 prunes

And the nice thing is, since I'm trying to be frugal right now, I will only be spending $1.87/shake for two meals out of the day...that's some savings!!

SIDENOTE:  I am sitting at a local coffee shop and one of the baristas has that piercing by her eye...it's totally adorable and she pulls it off well...but OUCH!  I often wonder what it will look like when people with this type of piercing decide they want to take it out.  Will they be left with a hole in their skin?

Anyways, I had my first smoothie about an hour ago.  I felt full when I was done drinking it and still do at this point.  I plan to try and wait until about 10:30 to eat my first snack.  I'm not going to get into any details at this point as to what I'm using...I'd rather wait and see how things pan out before I do that.  I'll keep you posted...

January Recap

It's hard to believe this is the last day of January.  Looking back it has flown by.  Wednesday will be the last day of the current class I am in (Theory & Research...yeck!!!!) and I will start class #5 next week.  November will be here before I know it!

We celebrated one of my dear friends' 40th birthday this month.  It was a surprise party in the gallery of a local photography studio.  Very cool and loads of fun...

I finally took my Christmas decorations down last week...yeah, yeah.  I know.  Better late than never , right?  I rearranged the living room a little bit and bought a few new decorative items.  Needed to freshen things up a bit.  Speaking of rearranging, my mind has been spinning try to think of how I want to design the basement.  We are going to try and start having it finished in the next few months.  There is so much potential; so many options.

Tred is doing good...he is loving this heat wave we have been getting in the Midwest.  Will likely go for a nice long walk today.  I'm hoping to get outside for a run today.  I am officially beginning my training for my May 1/2 Marathon.  I'll get more into that later.

Hope you enjoy your last day of January!!

b

What do I eat?

I have been an on again off again vegetarian over the last 5 or so years.  It all started after watching this video (if you plan to watch this...be forewarned.  It's disturbing).  As an animal lover I was utterly disgusted by this video and the way factory farms operate and found it difficult to eat food that originated that way.  After a few years I slowly migrated back to my carnivorous ways and am now faced with a similar situation.

You see, my sister recently prompted me to watch this video.  Forks over knives, while not as graphic as the PETA video, it sheds light on the whole process of meat processing and the effects that this lifestyle can have on our bodies.  It is really an eye opening movie.  Yes, it is movie length, but totally worth watching (I watched it over several sessions on the t-mill).  But to think that our diet can have such an effect on our chances of getting cancer...WOW!!

So here is my dilemma.  It is not practical for me to be a total vegetarian.  Afterall, my main squeeze is a hunter and is your typical meat-and-potatoes kind of guy.  So here is what I have come up with.  I will just be selective.  My sis has adopted what she calls "convenient vegetarianism".  I guess I am doing something similar. I have been doing this pretty much since I watched the video a few weeks ago.  Here's how it works.  If I am out at a restaurant, I will order vegetarian.  I will continue to consume venison which my boy hunts and I know how and where it is processed; no inhumane processes involved.  If I buy chicken at the store, I will be sure it is free-range and free of antibiotics/hormones.  I'm sure I will continue to modify this as time proceeds, but I find it difficult to forget how good I felt eating a mainly plant-based diet.  I felt light and fresh and not bloated and weighed down.

On another note, boyfriends birthday is next week and his gift is to arrive today :)  I'm SO excited to give it to him!!  I'll post a pic after he gets it!

Also, my TRX system will be here today!!

As I bid you a safe and LUCKY Friday the 13th, I will leave you with a few pics from my trip to Cozumel 2 years ago.  Looking out the window at the below zero temps makes me yearn for the tropics again...

b

Isn't it obvious??

Recipe here.  Delicious!!

Ouch!!

Ok, just changed up the theme on my Daily Mile account (friend me) and updated my profile.  I am ready to go!!  I got some new ink last week and have been waiting for the healing to subside so I can start running again.  You see, I got a new tattoo on my ribs...rubbing from a sports bra + fresh tattoo = OUCH!!!  Anyways, it's mostly healed now and I have been able to wear a bra for the last 4 days so I am good.  Ready to run....

Just hope my legs are :)

FYI, think twice before you ever get a tattoo on your ribs.  It was very well the most painful thing I have ever gone through.  If you are wondering what it means...look it up.  I'm already tired of explaining :)

Happy New Year!!

Sitting here watching the news...SO sick of hearing about the Caucus and politics and the presidential race...blah blah blah.  I guess that's what I get for living in Iowa.  I have been wanting to get this shirt from my favorite tshirt shop...

Started back to my graduate school classes last night.  This makes #4!!  I officially graduate in less than a year. CRAZY!  It has been totally doable so far and I have managed to maintain a 3.87 GPA in the process...yeah, I'm pretty much a genius!

My Gebo Watch should be delivered today...YEAH!!!  Very excited to get this.

The cool thing about these watches is that for every watch sold, 10 trees are planted.  GEBO stands for Green Earth, Blue Ocean.  Once again I have succumbed to my watch addiction.  Oh well, I could be addicted to much worse...right?

My Google Reader sits at 80 unread blogs right now.  I have been trying to stay on top of them lately, but have fallen behind in the last few days.  It's amazing how fast they stack up!  It's been fun reading everyone's recap of 2011 and goals for 2012.  It has gotten me thinking about my own goals...
1. Maintain my health and happiness
2. Maintain my 25 lb weight loss
3. Run a 1/2 Marathon in May (Redeem myself from the miserable race I "ran" in 2010)
4. Run a full Marathon in October
5. Finish my basement :)
6. Finish graduate school!
7. Be more consistent with my blogging :)

I can do this! I am excited for what this year will bring.

Ok, just a quick note to end on.  I always see people talking and posting pics about their "froyo" experiences.  As an ice cream lover I have always been envious of these postings and have been yearning for my own froyo experience.  Well...

I finally got my first taste and I must say I AM IN LOVE!!!  We got an Orange Leaf  where I live and I have visited it 3 times in the 2 weeks.  The last two times I have gotten Brownie Batter mixed with Peppermint and topped it with a touch of shredded coconut and Peppermint bark. O.M.G!  Nuff said.

I hope you have been able to spend some time reflecting on the year that just flew past us.  I also hope you have been able to think about the coming year and what your goals/plans are.  I look forward to sharing my accomplishments with you!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

b

Christmas 2011

Well, the Christmas season is over and we are rapidly approaching the new year.  It didn't seem like Christmas this year...

Maybe it's because I worked the whole Christmas weekend (overnight)...

Maybe it's because it is the end of December and there is STILL NO SNOW on the ground...(keep in mind I live in Iowa)

I have tried my best to get in the holiday spirit.  I even went and had a mani/pedi with some girlfriends and got little snowflakes on my pinkies...

Adam also came home and Tred boy was soooo exited to see him!!

 And I did some holiday baking...

 Christmas eve my uncle hosted the gathering...

 

Then off to work...at least I got to spend my holiday with my work family :)

  

I showed up for work on Monday night with two different shoes on...both Danskos, but one was matte and one was patent leather...nice :)

Tred spent a few hours at daycare today...sleepy boy now!  Good thing because my next class starts Monday and I have 4  chapters to get read.  Yeah!?

"_____" Wednesday

Not to be confused with wordless Wednesday, or any other catchy title that could be used to describe a post that really contains little words and mostly pictures.  Whatever I end up calling it, and whatever day I end up doing it on, I want to try and do this once a week.  I am LOVING this new camera app on my phone and find my self snapping pics of EVERYTHING!  Anyways, here are some from today and maybe from the last few days.  

What are your favorite things/people/places to take pics of?

What would be a good title for my weekly "wordless" post??

b