Next!

Come and check out my new page -- will be a much more vulnerable me in my journey.

Battle to Lose Me


Here's to the journey - to lose me.

Ash Wednesday

So I know I'm a little late... 20-odd something days, but hey. I started the day by going to 7am church. Lenten season started strong... I decided my 'fast' for the 40 days was facebook. Well, that lasted 12 days, but I digress.

 At work...

I was super excited because after work I was getting my hair done, compliments of a 50% off groupon. 

 Highlights & lowlights...

Chunky blonde and lowlights #4 (dark)...

The final... Love love love!!! I think I'm going to go to my regular hair lady for cuts, and the new lady for color. Next time I'm going for dark #5. Wooo! :) She also dried my hair with a difuser, which I may have to invest in.

No good, awful gym day

So I head to the gym after an 11 hour workday. It's been a week since I've worked out and I'm ready to go... in my new running shoes. Week 3, day 1 (again) of c25k.

I hop on the treadmill -- 5 minute warm-up walk. I got this. Then my phone says "Start running." I pump up the treadmill to my usual 3.9. My legs immediately say "WHAT?!?" I jog for 1:30, walk for 2:30... then comes the 2:30 run. My legs freak out. I slow down just a touch, but my calves are on FIRE and TIGHT. Oh my goodness. I've felt this before... back in week 1 when I first started.

I regretfully slow way down to a walk and go for 20 minutes. Not even a mile. Boo. I look at my logbook and realized that last time I attempted to run was February 11. Are you kidding?? Almost a month???? I go to the bike and go for 6 minutes. I was done.

I was so disappointed in the fact that I might have to start c25k all over. Week 1. Really? I'd come so far... and I was doing so well!! Then I totally botched it by emotionally eating my disappointments in a brownie.

Oh.
my.
gosh.

I texted with one of my best friends after. His advice - "build back up. You have to slip to realize that you're still climbing."

He's right. I haven't quit. I'm not giving up. I have two 5k races schedule for this summer. The first one is two months... I can do this.

A New Favorite

When I pulled in the driveway tonight at 7:10, I had a list in my head of things I wanted to accomplish before the night was over. Cleaning was one... starting to pack was two.... I have now done neither of those things and it's 10:10.

I had ab/core class from 6-7.. I was feeling pretty good, but considering my lack of workouts lately, I was not wanting to move. I sat in the car until almost 7:30.... well - that was a little less than productive. I finally managed to move from the car to the house... took laundry out of the dryer and then started to watch Biggest Loser.

It took me 45 to realize I hadn't eaten dinner yet and was quite hungry. So I searched a bit for a different tuna salad recipe and came upon this. A. MAZ. ING.  I added a couple of my own ingredients

Ingredients

2 whole-wheat pitas
1 can tuna canned in water without salt
Lemon juice from 2 wedges
2 tsps olive oil
1/2 small onion diced (purple or red onion adds color)
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 tbsp chopped parsley
Salt and pepper


I also added a dash of dill relish for more color.

I also added a wedge of laughing cow cheese, creamy swiss. I warmed the tortilla for 20 seconds and then spread the cheese. I have to tell you, I felt so GOOD about this meal. I didn't want to eat crap or have a chip chaser, so I just had the wrap and sucked on my water.

The fitsugar.com website said the two pitas were 391 calories and 38.6 carbs. That's something I can deal with AND feel good about!!

Ahhh ... and a trip

Aahhhh... fabulous Saturday of spoiling myself.

I haven't had a mani or a pedi in eons... felt so good!! CJ is leaving for San Diego on Monday. I'm flying out on Thursday and then we fly home together on Sunday. I'm so looking forward to it as I've never been there. If you know me at all, you know I'll be using the opportunity to knock out 3 more baseball stadiums... Anaheim Angels, San Diego Padres, and LA Dodgers. Wooot!!!

I told CJ that I wanted to drive through Beverly Hills before we leave... I think it's a flashback from 90210. ;)

Last Saturday in February

Here's how it works: describe your life -or something- in six words. Explain or don't, either way, have fun! Visit Cate at Show My Face to read all about it and get started! :)

There's a pedi calling my name!

Free Saturday? Yup!! I think pedi, shopping, and lunch on the plaza. :)

Handing God the Pen

I'm a little late in writing this, but...


January's book of the month was When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy. I must say - I was a little hesitant at first. I had been wanting to read it for quite some time, and was scared it was going to let me down.


I won't tell the entire book, there has to be SOME mystery. There were points that made me think, "Act/speak like your future spouse is watching you." Wow. It definitely made me think before spouting off at the mouth!!


There are things that some Christian author's talk about - especially when it comes to kissing, making out, etc., that not everyone can understand. If you're waiting until you get married to have sex, and that's your weakness - making out may not be the brightest idea. Stay away from the temptations because the devil knows where you're weak and he will attack you there.


I loved the fact that a husband and wife wrote the book. Eric wrote parts and Leslie wrote parts so you got both perspectives about how they felt and what they experienced. It wasn't just another feel good self-help book. As a single girl, it gave me a tad more hope and just a little peace about how God is working in my life. :)


February's book of the month is kinda long... and I haven't been reading a lot - so it might take up two months. Then again - I just gave up facebook for lent, so I'll probably be reading more. ;)


Love you guys!
Until next time ~

Poke Me in the Eye

Have you ever had your eyes dilated?
I had not, until today. Let me say, it was... weird. Close up vision stinks and everything is brighter than normal. For my lovely eyes that have these pockets (not what the doctor called them, but I can't remember the word)... that were all dilated, everything was 10x. Yikes!!! I picked out some new glasses - which I'm super excited to get!! Doc checked my eyes after a few minutes and didn't see anything wrong that would correlate with diabetes. So that was a plus.


I came home and sat in my dark bedroom, not being able to text or anything because I couldn't read...


WEIRD!!!


Obviously, my eyesight has returned to normal. :) Over the weekend I finished January's book of the month. I'll blog about that tomorrow.


Goodnight, friends! How are you ending the day?

Battle of the Scale

I hate the scale.
No. Take that back. I loathe the scale.


I started this new workout plan of mine one month ago. Has the scale moved? Slightly, but it's been fluctuating between a couple pounds.


Typically I would be ecstatic over the slightest hint of movement on the little needle.. but I feel like I've been working my tail off (literally and figuratively) and it's not budging.  Not sure if I need to incorporate something into my gym time. I've been going 5-6 days a week; Couch to 5k on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Ab/Core class on Tuesdays. Saturday and Sunday are 'free' days, but mostly I've been walking. I've pondered doing circuit weights on Saturday and Sundays; or maybe I need to go back to working out with a trainer once a week.


Ugh.


I've been eating very well, and tracking everything. Not sure if I need to give up the scale... I really would not be sad about doing it...


Thoughts? Suggestions?

Six Word Saturday

Here's how it works: describe your life -or something- in six words. Explain or don't, either way, have fun! Visit Cate at Show My Face to read all about it and get started! :)

I did a six word Saturday!!!!

The last one I did was over a year ago... if you want to get technical I only posted a handful of blogs last year. This year is already promising to be better!! :) Have a good one - snow day or not.

Mess to Message

If you haven't noticed, I'm big on dates and anniversaries. Four months ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (read more about that here). At the time I was shocked and so disappointed in myself. I'm learning more everyday, but God has used this as a spark of motivation on taking care of myself.

This week I began week 2 of c25k. Farther than I've ever gotten in the program. Tuesday I went to ab/core class... and then got the flu (or something like it). I was in bed all day on Wednesday, barely made it through work and teaching on Thursday... tonight, I HAD to do SOMETHING. Went to the gym - barely did 1/2 a mile on the treadmill, 10 minutes on the elliptical and I was done.

BUT... Did I mention... I registered for my first 5k!!!!!! :) May 12 is the big day and I'm so excited and nervous at the same time!!!

For that reason alone, I will forge ahead with typical weekend workouts and start week 2 again on Monday.


In a typical me fashion I would have thought 'who cares? It's Friday' and not have done anything. I don't normally toot my own horn, but I'm pretty proud of myself. I appreciate and love the encouragement and support I'm getting from friends and family.

Tonight on the way home from work I was thinking about the last four months. For the last month alone, I've been to the gym at least 3 times a week... I feel better about myself now than I have probably in my entire life!


God is definitely turning my mess into a message and I'm so excited about what He's going to do!

Me and My Jealousy

Today I taught my church kids THE hardest lesson I've ever had to teach. In theory it shouldn't have been that hard, but it's something I've been struggling with A LOT lately.

Typically I don't like airing my dirty laundry, but sometimes I think it's important to share struggles. I've been going through some things in my heart lately, including going through some 'coaching' with my pastor's wife. She's trying to help me be more transparent when it comes to needing prayer, asking for help... it's not a sign you're weak. I'm an emotional person, but I don't ask for prayer a lot in public forums (i.e. church or Bible study). However, I digress...


This morning my lesson was about Cain and Abel - how God preferred Cain's sacrifice over Abel's. In a jealous rage, Cain killed Abel, but then asked God to take pity on him so that people wouldn't kill him if they saw him. I took it to being jealous over what other people have (i.e. an xbox that you want REALLY badly). I'm at a time in my life where everyone is engaged, getting married, having babies, multiple babies, etc. I want that, plain and simple.

Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." I feel like I take delight in Him, but have yet to receive these desires. There are things that I'm fully aware - like God hasn't given them to me because I'm not ready. God is preparing the way, for me and for whomever I end up with. The way I presented it to the kids was, God wants to make sure you can handle what you're given. HE wants YOU to treat it with respect and handle with care.


Praying without ceasing, casting my cares upon Him...

Couch to 5k

On December 27, 2011 I began a great feat. I started "running"... ok, jogging. I began the program couch to 5k (again). This time of year I always beat myself up because I never accomplish anything throughout the year. I'm not a runner AT ALL, so it's been interesting listening to my legs talk after my workouts. Yesterday, I completed week 1 - I had to do days 2 and 3 twice, but hey, I'm ok with that. I've stuck with it longer than I did before, so that's something right??

The reason: One of my co-workers told me about the Royals Charity 5k. It's July 8 - the start of All-Star week (which is being held in Kansas City -- I'm super excited!). I said do you want to do it? We agreed and said let's do it!! Thus began my motivation for killing my legs.

I found another 5k that's close to my house that takes place on May 12. Ok. That gives me 5 months to 'train' and maybe get somewhere. This will be my practice run. This journey suddenly spiraled and one of my friends in North Carolina said "You should come visit me and we'll run one together!" Well.. ok!!! You know I'm always up for a trip. :) I found one that we can do - October 27. Looks like I'm making a trip to Charlotte.

My other 'goals' for this year are basically the same as last year -- again, because I can never accomplish anything. Ha!

Love you guys - thanks so much for the encouragement and motivation!