Reasons to Celebrate

This past Monday was my birthday. I have entered the last year of my 20's. I, for one, am looking forward to what this year will bring. A few things I am looking forward to in the next year or so: Gaining my LPN license, starting my career as a nurse, the possibility of moving, and hopefully, reconnecting with some fabulous friends that are supporting me in my journey through school and life.

Another reason to celebrate: I have placed in a state competition for nursing and get to go to Nationals! This past weekend, I was in Williamsburg for the state HOSA competition. HOSA stands for Health Occupation Students of America. I competed in a knowledge test for Nutrition and Job Seeking skills. I figured that if anything, it would be a nice break from the routine and a good way to celebrate my birthday. I was shocked to learn that I had placed 2nd in the test and 3rd in the job seeking skills! I now need to do some fundraising so I can go to California to represent VA. I am excited, nervous, anxious, and exhausted all at once just thinking about it.

And a Final reason to celebrate. Even with being gone all weekend and eating out every night, I still lost weight! I have been keeping up with my shakes, and water intake which was a challenge this weekend with all the running around. I am starting to feel more energized during the day. I am not putting junk into my body. I am starting to crave healthy over fast food. I can now look at food on my plate and not eat it all (I had a huge issue with this.) I am truely on my way to a better me. And thats is the best reason to celebrate.

Round 2 of Kickboxing, and Downsizing

As mentioned in my last post, I have started a kickboxing class once a week. Last night was the second night and, like the McDonald's comercials say, I'm Loving It! Last night we worked on kicking, hitting, and blocking while moving across the floor. At one point you were to go after your partner just throwing punches, one after another. Well, I think I scared my partner because instead of blocking, she just turned and ran! Now thats what I call intimidation! I feel so good while taking the class like my body is saying "Finally she decided to get me moving again." We also got to hit targets with kicks and punches. I have discovered that I really like hitting stuff! (Ha Ha) The trainer (who is a woman) said that when you like to hit the targets, you are either a true kickboxer, woman, or both.

I have also started a new diet that consists of meal replacement shakes, high protein snacks and then a "colorful" dinner. I have tried some of these types of shakes before and could never get past the flavor. Chaulky, grainy, and downright just awful tasting! But these are REALLY good. I got the chocolate flavor and get to mix in some peanut butter and a little ice... Reese's cup in a shake! And anyone who knows me knows that the combo of chocolate and peanut butter is HEAVEN to me! I don't want to tell you the name of the shakes quite yet because I have only been on them for a few days and I want to see how much I lose first. But from Friday to Tuesday, I had already lost 2 pounds.

Now for the downsizing portion of this blog. I was looking in my closet for something to wear and sorting into goodwill piles when I happened upon a pair of jeans that were bought for me a few years ago. I was getting ready to put them in the goodwill pile when I thought, what the heck, lets just see. I was so shocked when I could pull them all the way up, and even more so when I could zip them without doing the lay-on-the-bed-pulling-on-the-zipper-with-a pair-of-pliers dance. And I got so excited that I could actually stand and breathe in them that I had to post it on Facebook and on my mommies forum. So even if the scale doesn't say what I want it to, I can tell I have lost inches. And that makes all the difference!

Kicking it.

So after my last post, I wallowed in self pity for about a week. Boo-hoo, woe is me kinda stuff that really doesn't make much sense. So this week, I decided to stop feeling sorry for my self and do something about it. Enter my friend Carrie with the suggestion of Kickboxing.
The gym where she has been working out (and she looks awesome by the way) was offering an 8 week kickboxing class and she had seen that I had been down, and suggested I come with her and try it out. Last night was our first class and even though I had to sit out a couple times do to my lack of endurance and food in my system, I had SOOOOO much fun!
Alot of the moves reminded me of my former life as a dancer. The balance required, the form of the kicks, the way your body moves as a unit, etc. And the best part was I had a friend to do it with. That was what I had been lacking all along! I NEED that support system and accountability. I do so much better when I have someone to say, get off your butt now or I am never speaking to you again. (ok carrie never said that, but I am sure she was thinking it.) So if there is one piece of advice I have for this whole thing, it is this, If something is not working figure out why. For me, I know I need a friend or two to work out with... It makes time go by faster and is just more fun!

Blah

That's kinda how I have been feeling lately. Just Blah. I don't know what's wrong. I hate this feeling of numbness. Being numb to things I once loved. I know part of that is my depression, and part of it is the winter weather blues, but there is another part that I just can't quite put my finger on. I dunno. I also feel like I don't have many friends to talk too. Please don't take offense friends who do read this. I simply mean that I don't think I am on anyones top list. I might be the person you come to when you despreately need help, but not the person you call when you want to hang out. I have kinda come to terms with this but it still hurts to see people having a good time and no one bothered to call me. Even if I can't come and you know that, the call would mean alot. Ok. pity party over.

I've Fallen off the treadmill

No not really. I haven't been excersizing as much lately. I could make excuses like school work has picked up (which it has) or the girls keep getting in the way (which they do) or getting sick again (which I have) but when it comes down to it, I think I just get lonely doing it by myself. I wish I could join a gym or take some classes but schedule wise and financially its just not in the cards right now. I would also love to get a few more dvds or wii games to incorporate into some semblence of a routine. But again, finances just aren't there. I have also been trying to continue eating healthy. Some days are good, others not so much. One of my new favorite snacks is chocolate animal crackers. I get to have my chocolate kick with out a ton of calories. I am looking forward to the weather warming up and the days getting longer again. Hopefully soon I will be able to go for walks around the neighborhood with the girls in the stroller. Or maybe one of you would like to come and excersize with me??? Pretty please???

Hello again my dear friends. I am so sorry it has been so long since my last postllo .

School has been busy, weight loss has not.

Packers won the Super Bowl and I managed to not pack on the pounds!

Even though the scale isn't moving as much as I would like, I can tell a major difference in my clothes. The inches are coming off faster than weight. It is hard for me to remember that inches does not equal weight. I have also been pretty diligent about my excersize. Its not always easy to fit it in with the 2 girls. Sometimes I have them do it with me but others times it is just easier to sit them in another room watching TV while I can have 20 mins to just concentrate on myself. I also need to be better about my water intake. I never feel thirsty so I really have to force myself to drink.

In other news, I am starting to feel the need for change. I don't know what needs to change but I feel like I need an adventure. Maybe a move out of state? Maybe just a place to decorate? I really have no ideas yet just an itch to do something. Ever get those feelings?

Shred, 2nd Place, and 400

Hi readers! I'm Back again! It has been another busy week at school getting ready for our exam on Thursday. I have a few little things I wanted to touch on today.

First off.. The 30 day shred.

Um, Jillian scares me. It's as if she can see me through the tv and knows if I am not doing an excersize to my full potential. However, after I did my first workout with her this morning, I really can feel the muscles I worked! Maybe I do need Jillian to kick my butt every day. I will shred the pounds in no time!

On to my next bit of news, I am currently in 2nd place for my Biggest Loser competition with my mommies group! The First place person lost over 5% of her body weight in one week!!!! I hope to dethrone her soon, but if she keeps posting numbers like that, she will be one tough person to beat!

Last thing, Have you heard about the 400 calorie diet plan?
I am thinking I might give this one a try. Basically you eat 3 meals that are 400 calories each for the first 2 weeks and then add in one more 400 calorie meal for a total of 1600 calories a day. One example of a 400 calorie meal= a small McDonalds hamburger and an ice cream cone. Now, I might not eat that but I was happy to see some fast food alternatives in this plan. And unlike some other plans (not knocking any of them, just for my simple, overloaded brain) there is nothing else to keep track of! No points, grams of sugar, fat, etc. Just calories! The idea behind the diet is that 400 calories fills you up and keeps you fuller longer than several smaller meals.

Well, that's enough of my rambling. I hope you all have a nice healthy week. Until next time!