Picture Day

Well, hello!
I know this is a day early...but I had time, so I thought it I would do this today. So this is my progress pic from 2 weeks ago.


And this is my pic from today. Jillian is fantastic. She should pay me for promoting her video, but I am proof it works!

I only have 7 pounds to lose to reach my goal. But honestly, that's just a number and I am starting to feel comfortable with my body now, I don't even check my weight like I used to. I really just like being healthy and working out and trying new foods. I am so excited to go clothes shopping on May 1st with my sister. I was going through my clothes the other day when I realized....all of my skinny clothes are gone. I remember thinking last year when I was edging near 175-180 that I probably would never fit into anything again and I got rid of MOST of my pre-pregnancy clothes, what was I thinking? I won't make that mistake again now that I know I am in control of my body, not the other way around. But, yes...I have NO CLOTHES. My clothes are getting too big, and just hang on me. My jeans slide right off. In fact, I have one pair of jeans that fit ok and those are even getting loose. I did keep some old pre-pregnancy jeans, and those are too small. I honestly don't know if I will fit into those again...pregnancy can do amazing things to your hips. Even if I lose more weight, my hips just aren't as slim as they used to be, finally I have a little curve!
For all of those out there working hard and making lifestyle changes ...keep it up, you will see change! Just as a reminder....here is me on Mother's Day LAST year....so not even a whole year ago. See what a difference a few months of hard work can do? Those jeans don't even stay on me anymore!



Before I go...I big shout out to my sister, Darci. She is starting Jillian and walking more, too. She is one of those girls that look cute at all times, so now she is going to get all fit and be even cuter. Damn her! :)

(100)Days

Good morning!

Well, I had a doctor's appointment this morning and since I HAD to get up and get dressed I went on a quick ten minute walk. It was refreshing and I feel more awake now than I usually do at this time. So I will try to do it again on Thursday and maybe work my way up to longer walks and possibly jogging. So my appointment was just a follow-up appointment for the GERD. Everything is looking good and my doctor even complimented my TEN pound weight loss since the last time I was in. I also paid attention to my blood pressure, thanks to Nathalie and her blog a few weeks ago. It was 110/60....I have no idea what that means...but that's good, right? I should refer back to Nathalie's blog. My doctor was also pretty impressed with my exercise and eating healthy! YAY ME!

Guess what today is? It is been 100 DAYS since I started using my Wii Fit! WOW! Now, of course, I didn't use it EVERY DAY but....it's been 100 days since I stepped on the balance boaurd and said "I need to get in shape and be healthier". I have lost ten pounds and a few inches and I am healthier all around. My wii fit age went from 50-ish to 23-ish. I have better balance and better body control. In just 100 DAYS. It makes me wonder waht else I could accomplish in just 100 days. Write a book? Write a few short stories? Learn to play Guitar? Train to run in a marathon? I feel like I can accomplish ANYTHING. Why not, right? I thought I would have quit this already and I am still going strong! So today I am going to make a new goal, non-weight related, because not everything has to be about weight. As you know I have another blog, Bookwormquinn, so my new goal is to write ten short stories in 100 days. That doesn't sound too bad, about a story every ten days. So keep an eye on my other blog and encourage me to keep going, because I need encouragement, and I couldn't have made it 100 days without YOU. (Sarah, Nathalie and Brooke especially) So Happy 100 to me! YAY!

On another note, I had another success....I got my husband to take a walk on Sunday and Monday! This is big for me because, well.....he just doesn't do outdoors and he likes to sit and play games all the time. Now that I am living a healthier life I am trying to encourage my family to do the same, because I love them and I want them to live a long, full, healthy life. I have also gotten Tyler (the hubby) to eat healthier for dinner and I am hoping to squeeze another walk or two out of him this week because it is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL this week. It's supposed to be 70 + for the next three days! WOO!

You may have noticed, I didn't post my portobello mushroom recipe last night...it was not so good. I think the red wine vinegar just made it taste bitter...so yuck. But the point is I am trying to make new recipes, so it's ok that this was a FAIL!

Today is my yoga day and I am looking forward to it. I just feel....blah and tired and some yoga and a short nap sound PHENOMENAL!

A big shout out to Sarah, who is feeling a little down and could use some cheering up!

Mondays

It's Monday....yay. Can you hear my excitement?

So I am not feeling so hot today...but we must go on, right? After I finish this blog I am going to do Jillian Level 1, but I have already decided that I am going at a very slow pace. Then I will take a quick shower and Harliegh and I will go for a walk. Then maybe I will get in some yoga when she goes down for a nap and possibly take a nap myself.

I know most people hate Mondays, but I kind of like em. It gives you a chance to start over fresh, make new goals and throw out old goals that didn't work out.

I really don't know what else to talk about today. My brain is in kind of a fuzz. Blah.

I am trying a new Portobello Mushroom recipe tonight, I will be sure to post the recipe...maybe some pics If I can find my missing camera!

Have a great day!

So I know I didn't post a blog yesterday, but i have one busy little mama. You see, this Saturday is my FINAL class for the term and I have been busy, busy, busy putting together one massive portfolio for my Creative Writing Class. I have revised and edited 7 poems, 1 flash fiction, 1 mentor project and 2 short stories so many times that my head is spinning and all of my characters are all mixed together creating little mini stories. It's pure havoc in my brain! But....I only have to revise one story one more time, and write a two page self-evaluation, and put everything neatly into a folder....though I am running out of hours in the day!

You will be happy to know that I have been working out everyday. I have done Jillian Level 2 every other day and yoga in between, as well as walking once or twice a day every single day. I managed to make it through Jillian Level2 today without the overwhelming need to vomit. ha. I just worked at a slower pace then they did on the screen, but I made it though it all!

So...I usually do this on Sunday, but I am going to do it now.

Last week's goals

1. Count calories, stick to my 1250 a day plan. (stuck to this for the most part, a couple minor setbacks but I usually compensated by eating less or skipping snacks...no biggie)
2. Try Jillian Level 2! (I'm a little scared) if my leg feels better, that is...( Tried this, went semi-well)
3.Do Jillian every other day and Wii Fit the other days (Yep....succeeded)
4. Bedtime: 11 (hmmm....for the most part, yes...Level 2 wears you out!)
5. Get up early and walk/jog by myself twice(uh......no)


And here are next weeks goals:

1. Stay on calorie counting
2. Jillian...I am going to do Level 1 on Monday and Friday, Level 2 on Wednesday
3. Yoga on Tuesday and Thursday (maybe more since a certain visitor is on the way)
4. Bedtime:11 (don't laugh but I can't figure out how to take the italics off)
5. (ooo...no italics) Get up on Tuesday and Thursday to jog/run (I have an early dr. appt on Tuesday so I need to get up anyway)

That's all.....basically the same as last week with some minor tweaks.

I haven't lost any this week....but....see the parentheses in goal number 3. So I am not discouraged.

Finally...it's friday...and I am trying to say something that I love on Friday...soooooo

Free Time

I love free time sooo much, and it has been something I have seen very little of this week. In fact, I really don't even have the time to go into detail about how much I love free time. So this will just have to do.

Have a great weekend!

Tired

Hello everyone!

So I tried Jillian Level 2 today and had to stop after the strength part of circuit 3. Not because I couldn't do it, but suddenly I had the need to vomit. I didn't...but it was close. Once I thought about it, I think this must be from my GERD I remember reading that I have to be careful not to workout too soon after eating with GERD. I had waited an hour, but maybe I should wait two. PLUS, I am sure all the jumping up and down and bouncing while in the plank position does not help with the reflux! I think on Friday, I will just wait the two hours adn see if that helps, if not...I am going back to Level 1. I don't really want to induce vomiting. Other than that, I really like Level 2.

I saw on the news this morning that women age 20 and up should do a minimum of one hour of moderate exercise a day to fight the weight gain after 50. Did you know that? I didn't but it makes me glad I am making lifestyle changes now!

So this is a pretty short blog...but I am tired.

Later!

Good morning!
Well....I forgot to set my alarm this morning. I hate alarms, so I guess I was hoping I would just wake up on my own. I didn't. I woke up at 7:15 and nestled down into my warm bed and pillow. A few minutes later, Harliegh woke up. I really do want to try to get up because I think once I get a taste of walking/jogging and being 100% by myself I will want more and more! The hardest part is just doing it. But I still have time...my goal was to get up and walk just two days, and it's only Tuesday!

I wasn't as sore as I expected this morning from doing Level 2. I guess the aleve really helped. I am a little sore, but nothing bad at all. Guess what today is? March 23rd? and guess what March 23rd is? Free Cone Day at Ben&Jerry's! AH! Now...please don't throw your shoes at me in disgust. They are only tiny cones and I have to walk down a huge steep hill just to get one...then back up again. But who can pass up a free ice cream cone? Not I.

I am watching Ellen...she has a segment about weird inventions. Some idiot actually invented something called a" The Spoon and Fork Lift"....an actual spoon and fork that is weighted like a dumbbell so you can work out your arms while you eat! SERIOUSLY?!?!?! WOW. Just....WOW.

I woke up this morning and opened my patio door to let in some fresh air. Within ten minutes my eyes were red, itchy, swollen, watery. AHHHHH....SPRING! Gotta love allergies, huh?? So maybe I won't be enjoying my cone as much as I had hoped!

I was reading Nathalie's blog this morning and she was talking about how unhealthy America is. It's true...makes you not so proud to be an American. BUT I am PROUD to say that Minneapolis, Minnesota ( I live in a suburb) is one of the healthiest American cities! YAY!We have to focus on something to get us through the winters, right? Might as well be health!

This blog is soooooooo random and jumping everywhere. I hope you enjoyed the ride. LOL. My brain must be swelling from my allergies! hahahaha....ha....ha.

okiloveyoubuhbye!

Level 2

I did Jillian Michaels Level 2 this morning! YIKES! Level 2 makes Level 1 look like a walk in the park! Really...my head is in a fog right now! It's all a blur to me! LOL The one positive about Level 2 is that it seems to go by much quicker than Level 1. I only stopped once for a 5 second break. In that 5 seconds I blubbered like a fool and nearly started bawling than I told myself to "man up" and keep working so I did. I had to do the "easy" version of most of the workouts, I felt so wimpy!
Luckily, I had the great foresight to take an aleve beforehand so I am not feeling it so much right now. Tomorrow is a different story...but the yoga will help that.
I was going to go into detail about the workouts...but I don't even know how to explain them. Right now, though, I am missing punches and side-lunges. :(

I sat down and made my meal plan through Friday! This really helps me stay on track! I also have been keeping track of my water intake! Today I have already had 4 tall glasses of water (about 14oz of water each) so I will try to get one more down before the day is over. How do I do this when I hate drinking? One tall glass with Breakfast, one before Jillian, one during/after Jillian, one with lunch and one with dinner. I also mark each glass on a paper on my fridge to remind me how many I have had and how many I have left to go.

Tomorrow I am going to TRY to get up and go for a walk/jog and then do YOGA! I am sure my body will thank me for the yoga!

Have a great day!