almost forgot!

I can't believe I almost forgot to mention that I got a mountain bike!!  I hit my first trail this past week and it was awesome!!  oh, and I do hate the porta potty background here... I promise the bike ride scenery was much nicer! 

Cheers!

I'm a good "maintainer"

Well, it's official... I stink at losing weight these days.  But, I'm great at maintaining.  I've been teeter-tottering between the same 5 pounds for almost six months now.   I have to start kicking it up A LOT.  I don't want to be a maintainer... I want to be a loser.  haha

I just went to Old Navy to try on capri pants... I didn't find any that I liked.  Plus, I'm in between sizes right now and I don't want to buy any in the bigger size.  And, I'm not going to buy pants that are too tight.  ugh... I'm frustrated.

Good news though!  I did win the first workout challenge between me and the boy toy!!  So,  I got 50 bucks!  woot woot!

Now, we have a lot of new rules on the second workout challenge.  We now have a "sub-challenge."  So, we have the original "who gets the most workouts in."  They win $50 bucks from the other person.  Then our sub challenge requires you must workout at least five 30 minute workouts a week.  We've both put $100 dollars in the pot for that challenge.  If you don't do the minimum, you lose your money.  If there is one winner, they get the $200.  If we both lose, we have to donate the money to a good cause.  So, we've got that challenge keeping us even more motivated.  

Other news (yes, there's a lot)  I'm now 26.  So, I'm thinking about changing the name of my blog... I don't know.  I had a lot of goals for my 25th year.  I did lose about 17 pounds during that year... which I am very proud of!  However, I have 32 more pounds to lose.

So, I am happy to post again... sorry it's been SO LONG.

Cheers!

evil girl scouts...

Why do I buy your cookies?

Why do I eat so many of them?

WHY WHY WHY do I let you get in the way of my healthy diet?

And just when I thought my boy toy and I were about to clean out every box I got in a week or less... my dad dropped by two boxes for us today!!!!  AGHHHHH!!!  

I will not tell you how many stupid cookies I've had this week... because I stopped counting... because I am in denial...  

Good news... I did a walk/run today... 3.25 miles.  

Oh, and I'm beating the boy toy in the challenge still... BUT he is really close behind me.  I was super sick last week (complete with a fever of 102) and he spent my days ill catching up.  GRRRRRRR.

Cheers to cookies!

Cheers to twenty five years!

Im feeling so inspired!

my neighbors house...

my house...

me (and boy toy in the back)

ice... ice... everywhere ice...

I guess all it takes is an unexpected vacation from work ...

School was out for four days.

My parent's power was out for two.

My cable was out for 1.5.  **sniffle** 

But, I had actually been feeling like crap on Monday and was DYING for a snow day so I could get tons of sleep and start feeling better.  Well, getting four snow days was way more than I had wished!  So, I'm still not feeling 100%... sinus stuff.  But, I had a lot of time to read silly, girly magazines, sleeeeeeeep, and get some stars for the workout challenge.  (ehem, I'm winning so far, by the way)

The last two days I've done an hour of cardio!  And it feels good to be back in the game since being sick.

I spent a couple of hours today ignoring my messy house and just surfing the net.  I stumbled across a rather inspiring blog post.  And that, my friends, is what got my lazy ass off the couch and onto the treadmill.  ;)    (That, and the thought of telling my boy toy about my second gold star... two days in a row... on the challenge will feel awesome when he gets home!)  

But, mostly I was inspired by the way Brene wrote on her blog about battling addiction and not just alcoholism but food addiction.  The way that she was able to poor herself out there about a topic that most women would fear admitting in public.  It got me SERIOUSLY thinking about my relationship with food.  I enjoyed how she said she had "neutral" feelings about food.  How she says "you no longer run as fast as you can towards the foods that you crave, nor do you run as fast as you can away from it."  This is something that I've been battling with myself.  I often have weeks where I allow myself to eat whatever, whenever.  I also have the weeks where I'm a strict "dieter" type.  And I am then amazed with my willpower.  But, I realize that life is too short to always run from the foods you love, but aren't the best for you.  So, I allow myself to eat them every once in a while.  But, the problem with me is, I have to make sure that my "every once in a while" doesn't turn into every day... that's the problem.  I must make sure that every trip to the grocery store doesn't involve the ice cream aisle.  Because, really, I freakin' love ice cream.  However, I have some serious weight and fitness goals to work on.

Reading her post just made something click inside my head.  I'm not even sure if I can put it into words yet.  But, it's a good feeling.  I've been maintaining my weight for about two or three months now.  And it's about time I started losing again.  I'm ready...

PS.  After three tries this month... I finally made the perfect hard boiled eggs today!  yum!

Cheers to inspiration!

Cheers to twenty-five years!

The Boy Toy Is Movin' In!!!

Yup, that's right.... he broke his lease yesterday and is moving within the next month.  So, that means I have to make room for boy stuff... hmmmmmm.  Thankfully he doesn't have much crap... I am the one who has a house full of STUFF.  

The best part was that his mother already gave him the speech on "you better contribute and help out around the house... Jen can't do it all!"  Seriously, I love this woman.  He's already been caught unloading dishes THREE TIMES THIS WEEK!!!  The best thing is, two of those were pre-mommy-talk.  :)  He also mentioned that when it gets time, he will help with mowing the lawn!  I told him, "awesome... but only if you do it with your shirt off!"  haha  Then we made up this whole scenario about him mowing with his shirt off and me out in the bushes video taping him while making my own soundtrack music.  bow chicka bow woowwwwww.  Ok, have I mentioned that we are dorks?

Today I am doing laundry and I've cleared out a bunch of clothes in my closet that don't fit or I never wear.  He now has room for all of his clothes in my closet.

As far as our workout challenge, I did the first workout today ... a 45 minute walk/jog!  I had to rub it in... So, I sent him a text that said, "I'm workin' out beeeoootch!"  Haha.  He thinks he's going to win... yeah right!

Well, I'm off for more laundry and rearranging of my things... 

Cheers to my new roomie!

Cheers to twenty five years!!

Bring It On Part Duex

We are making the poster and finalizing the rules of our challenge TONIGHT!  Oh, and deciding the PRIZE!!!  I can't wait...

BRING IT ON!!!!!

Cheers to competition!

Cheers to twenty five years!

Bring It On Challenge

No, I am not talking about the cheerleading movie... but, now that I mention it... let me throw out some Bring It On quotes!

~Awesome!  Oh, wow!  Like, totally!  Freak me out!  I mean, right one!  The Toros sure are number one!

~Why does everyone have to go on a diet?  

~Because!  In cheerleading, we throw people in the air.  And fat people don't go as high.

Ok, moving back to topic.  My boy toy and I are starting a workout challenge tomorrow!!!  WOOO HOOOOO!!  Complete with DIY poster and colorful star stickers.  :)  yay!

We are still working out the details.  But, basically we are challenging each other for about three months.  He has a tri to do in April and I have a 5k in April.  So, we are kicking it into high gear.  The rule is that you don't get a sticker for a workout under 30 minutes, and then different color stickers mean different things... there will be cardio stickers and strength training stickers.  We both feel like dorks that we've gotten this detailed, but it's fun.

Soooooo, what are the stakes???  He is saying that we should just do cold hard cash.  Loser pays the winner 50 bucks.  But, I'm wondering if we can get something juicier than that.... hmmmmm...

Cheer me on, folks!!!  I've got to BEAT HIM!!!!

Other notes, (since I've been such a slacker on my blog).

I've told my family that a mountain bike is the only thing on my birthday wish list.  I just want a nice beginner bike.  My birthday is in March... so, just in time for SPRING!  I can't wait.  So, the boy toy is getting me a helmet and maybe some other cool accessories.  :)

Cheers to being the winner of our challenge!!!

Cheers to twenty five years!!!

where to draw the line...

ok... I was very excited when I got on the scale this morning.  It read 170.6

Now, my reward for getting to 170 is to finally watch my Sex and the City DVD (the movie).  I have owned it for weeks and it just sits on top of my cook books waiting to be watched.  BUT, the rule to myself was 170 pounds and you get to watch it!

So, what do you think???  Does 170.6 count?  Or do I have to wait for a number less than 170.5?  Or do I have to wait for 170.0?  OMG, I just want a reward for losing anything in December!  But, I don't wanna be a cheater!!  haha.  Maybe I'm putting too much thought into this.

PS... I was sick last week and didn't work out at all.  I finally got on the treadmill today for 30 minutes and it felt great.  :)

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

**ok, I've thought about it**

Alright, alright... I talked to my boy toy about this dilemma... and I'm not going to watch the DVD until I'm at a 170.0 or less.  That will make me work EXTRA hard this week to get to my freakin' reward!!!!!!

Cheers to possibly meeting my mini-goal!

Cheers to twenty five years!

GOALS: out with the old, in the with new

So, recap of goals for this week...

1. cardio... 18 miles of walking/jogging -- not done.  I did 5.25 miles.

2. weights... 3 days -- not done.  I did two days.

3. 2 days of blogging -- done

4. log food everyday -- not done.  I logged two days.

Ok, so I only met one out of four of my goals.  But, I did get some activity, which I feel is better than none.  I knew I wouldn't get the 18 miles, b/c I looked up a plan for switching from walking to running.  I have decided to follow that plan to get me speeding up.  And, I did go by that plan and it made my treadmill time much more interesting.  

My legs and arms have been sore... from jogging and weights!  I like that feeling.  It reminds me that I've been moving...

NEW GOALS:

1. cardio... walk/job plan three days a week 

2. weights... upper body weights on M, W, F

3. 2 days of blogging

4. log food everyday

Cheers to new goals!

Cheers to twenty five years!

Photo Friday

(photo from trip to Cozumel... a few years ago)

MUST... THINK... OF... THE... BEACH...

ok, so I really need to remember that long pants and sweaters aren't to be worn all year... there will come a time ... much sooner than I'd like to realize that I will be in a bathing suit.  I don't want to be the chubby girl in the suit this summer...

therefore, two cardio sessions for me this weekend... and tomorrow is upper body weights as well.

cheers to bathing suits!

cheers to twenty five years!

I'm not in the mood...

no, no, no... not that, you perverts.  ;)  I'm not in the mood for a workout. 

I'm feeling like a slacker.  :(

I know what my goals are this week... I'm just not motivated.

I have lots of excuses.. that are all lame.  I hate excuses.

I feel like one of my little students at school ... when I ask, "WHY did you do that?"

and they just look at me blankly and shrug their shoulders.  

My goals are staring me in the face saying, "WHY aren't you doing anything?"

and I just nicely shrug my shoulders... I don't know why.

I think it's important that I post on the days that I feel like crap too... I can't stand always feeling the need to appear positive or perfect.  (yeah right!)

I know I should be on the treadmill right now... but I think I'm just going to go clean my kitchen and get back to it tomorrow.

side note:  I did actually do cardio and weights yesterday... but that's it for the week, so far.

cheers to venting!

cheers to twenty five years!

All about Goals...

First things first, let's see how I did on my goals this week...

by the way, b/c of how my workout journal is set up, I am counting my weeks from Monday to Sunday.  So, today is the end of my week.  :)

1.  4 days of cardio - DONE

Wed and Th - 30 minutes of cardio

Friday - 48 minutes of cardio

Saturday - 60 minutes of cardio

2.  2 days of weights - DONE

did arm workout 4 days... M, W, F, Su

3.  2 days of blogging - DONE

much more free time = much more blogging!

4.  log in food journal every day - NOT DONE

out of my daily schedule threw me off, I think.. didn't log  :(

NEW GOALS FOR THIS WEEK!

1.  Cardio - 18 miles for the week

I am going to start thinking of my cardio in terms of miles.  I think this will help me move from walking to jogging more.  If I know I just need to do 60 minutes of cardio, I can just drift off and walk for 60 minutes.  But, I need something to push me to get more distance... that will push me to do more jogging, which I know I can do.  

2.  3 days of weights... Tu, Th, Sa

3.  2 days of blogging

4.  log food everyday

Cheers to meeting most of my goals!

Cheers to twenty five years!

cardio?? on thanksgiving!?!?!

seriously... I need a gold star or something...  I just did cardio on Thanksgiving!  hahaha

Now, I gotta hit the shower and head over to my parents' house.  :)

Hope you all have a fab Thanksgiving!!

Cheers to yummy food!

Cheers to twenty five years!

I'm rockin' my weekly goals!

so far, so good on the goals...

I am logging my food every day... if I keep that up, goal will be met.

I have blogged at least twice already... so that goal is met!

I have done two weight sessions... so that goal is met, too!

I have done one day of cardio and plan on doing that each day til Saturday, so that should be met as well.

I knew not having to work all week would get me in the mood for a kick ass week.  yessss!

After I shower in a few moments I'm going to make some white chocolate covered pretzels to bring to my parents' house tomorrow... yum!

Then, I'm going to work on a painting that is way over due for a friend... I shall post a picture of it when I'm done... for fun!

cheers to productive days!

cheers to twenty five years!

4th photo tag!

1. Pick the 4th folder on your computer

2. Pick the 4th picture

3. Explain the picture

4. Tag 4 more peeps

I tag anyone who would like to do it.

It is always nice to see another side of the runner/triathlete.

Alright... this is a picture of Trisha Yearwood... in concert last September.  My dad got tickets for him, my mom and me.  I enjoyed much more than I thought I would.  Damn, that girl can sing!

Cheers to sharing pictures!

Cheers to twenty five years!

workin' my arms

I really wanted to try this arm workout from Self Magazine... and I just did it!  I loved it!!!  Especially the last move... kill me now!  I think the angle of the last move is different from any other move I've done.  It just felt really different, but in a "wowzah, I need that move" kind of way.

Anyways, I went to Wal-Mart for groceries today... that place is already a mad house.  Have I ever mentioned that I live in Wal-Mart country... a.k.a. Northwest AR... home of Wal-Mart Home Office.  That's pretty errelevent information, but it gives you a little bit of a taste of what my WM shopping experience is like.  One minute I'm passing an old lady and the next I'm passing a group of WM vendors discussing their product and blah blah blah...  But those vendors are some of the best donations to everything in the area... ehem, including runs!!!  yay for free stuff, right!!?!?  Anyways, I went for groceries today and the place is totally stocked full of Turkey Day goodies.  I'm glad I got in and out on my lunch break.  :)

So, my boy-toy bought his lil sis a Wii for Christmas!!  We wanted to make sure that it worked  (mmm hmmmmmm, sure).  So, we hooked it up Friday night... popped open a bottle of wine and played Wii Sports.  FUN!  We are thinking about getting his mom the Wii Fit... anybody have that?  Heard any good things on that??

Cheers to my already sore arms...

Cheers to twenty five years...

Weight a minute!!!

I stepped on the scale this morning... naked.  :)  It's been a long time since I've done the first-thing-in-the-morning-no-clothes weigh in, which is the way I usually like to do it.  But, I got some good news!!  I am now down 15 pounds!!!!  I can't believe it!!!

Plus, last week was the first day that somebody at work commented on my weight loss.  She asked me how many pounds I'd lost since school started (I'm a teacher).  I told her 13 pounds.  Then she asked, how are you doing it???  Weight Watchers??  I told her nope, I've been there and done that.  This time it's just me.  I'm just watching portion size, getting more fruits and veggies, and really trying to exercise more.  She went on and on about how great she thought that was.  And, then I told her that she was the first person to notice and thanks so much for commenting!!  She couldn't believe that... "you're kidding," she said "you look great!"  I did find out that she is my old size, so I'm going to give her by old pants... you know, the pants that I'm now able to take off without unbuttoning.  :)

So, let's get to the bad news... because it's there... lurking behind me.  I didn't meet all of my goals from last week....

1.  I only did two days of cardio... not four

2. I didn't lift weights AT ALL

3. I wrote my meals all but 1/2 of Tuesday

4. And I blogged one, not two days in the week.

So, I am going to attempt the same goals again this week.... shouldn't be hard.  I only work two days this week because of Thanksgiving Break!

Cheers to happy weigh in's...

Cheers to twenty five years...

I like to move it, move it...

Alright... so far I'm on track with my goals this week BUT I forgot to write my meals for the last half of Tuesday.  I think that's ok... considering...

Right now I'm going to go change and get on the treadmill for 35 minutes while I watch VH1's top 100 90's songs... LOL

I almost talked myself out of working out tonight... but then I thought, NO NO NO!  Get your buns UP and MOVIN!

Cheers to workin' out to 90's tunes...

Cheers to twenty five years...

don't go for second best, baby.

Did I mention that I saw Madonna a few weeks ago?  ok, yes... I know that I did.  But, talk about a bad ass chick to get you motivated, right!?  I didn't even have floor seats and I could see muscle definition from where I was... uh-maze-ing!

So, its about time I took that motivation and did something with it.  

I haven't lost any weight in the last few weeks... just maintained.  My diet hasn't been as great as it should be, but the vegetarian thing is still working for me. 

Got my books in... Slow Fat Triathlete is giving me even more inspiration and I'm really thinking about taking that plunge next year.

I was sick last week... a cold.  And, I think I could have stayed well had I been keeping up with my workouts as diligently as a month ago.  So, thought I'd get back to it with some simple goals to check off my list during the week...

Goals this week...

at LEAST four days of cardio... (30 minutes or more of walking)

two days of weight lifting

two days of blogging

6 days of logging... what I eat.  ;)

cheers to rockin' bodies...

cheers to twenty five years...

Like a Virgin... whoooo

Not an impressive week, period.  Literally, I blame my period.  ha!

I've been lazy and eating about half c-r-a-p.  Just had to say that out in the blog world... so I feel like somebody ... somewhere will read this... and I will feel guilty and get my booty back in gear!!

I ordered the Slow Fat Triathlete book... can't wait for it to arrive!!!!  I also ordered New Moon (Twilight series, book 2)!!  That excites me too!!!  I am almost done with Twilight and it's great!

I am in Chicago this weekend to see Madonna!!!  (hints the title)  I am hangin with my sister and the concert is tomorrow night.  yay!

Well, sorry for the crazy random thoughts kind of post.. but wanted to make sure I'm keeping myself in check...

Cheers to Madonna!

Cheers to good books!

Cheers to twenty five years!