Back in the saddle again....I'M BAAACK!!

Friends,

I have missed you and it has most definitely been too long! There have been some health issues that I've been dealing with so the gym became a low priority while I was trying to get things worked out. Most of you know that I have bad knees- I've had 4 knee surgeries on each knee. Well recently my left knee has been giving out while I'm standing up or walking. I've landed on my elbow that I had replacement surgery on in October, so it's been rough because I then have pain both places. So I've got to go get it checked out.

Today was my first day back and it was definitely good to be back in the routine. I was a little worried that I might have problems with my knee giving out but everything was good. It gave out for a quick mintue after I got off the treadmill but I was able to catch myself. So it's going to be a work in progress, just like the weight loss and getting healthy.

Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement! I know I haven't done all that I said I would and that's been disappointing and frustrating as all get out but I'm back and I'm going to do the best that I can from now on! Hopefully my knee and elbow will get on board too!

Groundhog Day

Friends,

It's been a while since I blogged because it's been a while since I went to the gym. Now that I'm out of training and into my job more I'm having a hard time. I spend all of my day staring at two computer screens, it's causing my neck to relapse. I come home with my neck feeling like it has a cinder block tied around it with severe muscle spasms and my lower back.

I haven't been able to go to the gym because of it so I'm obviously upset and feeling a little dejected because of it. I'm not quite sure where to go from here. I'm working on feeling better and getting back to the gym as quickly as possible.

I hope this doesn't sound like a pity party, I just wanted to share with y'all what's been going on and why I've been quiet lately! Thank you for being there! :)

God willin' and the creek don't rise!

Hi friends,

I'm sorry it's been a while since I last blogged! Last week I was sick with the stomach virus, it was awful!! I didn't get to work out at all and barely kept any food down. This week has been really stressful at work, since I'm playing catch up and I've pinched a nerve in my neck. Needless, to say it's been a rough couple of weeks.

This weekend I'm looking forward to hanging out with some friends, I'm going to see Sixteen Candles at the theater! WooHoo! Then next week I'll be getting back in to the work out routine and will get the physical assessment done! Don't worry, I'll keep you posted!

Did you say physical assessment?!

Today I had a GREAT day!! I finally closed my first case at the new job so it finally feels like things are clicking! WooHoo!!

After work I signed up for my once a week training session with my new personal trainer, Angela, at the gym. Angela and I got to chat for a few minutes and after we set up my first appointment (next Tuesday evening) she said words that are still making me cringe...Physical Assessment!

After I heard those words my mind went back to P.E. from elementary through middle school with the dreaded President's Physical Fitness Challenge! UGH! Do you remember it? You had to do a certain number of push ups, jumping jacks, running, and the dreaded pull up! I could never do a SINGLE pull up!! Even now the thought of that stupid bar makes me shudder! I never got an award because you had to do at least 1 pull up!

But this time I'm going to conquer it!! Granted, I'm not doing a pull up but I am going to continue to eat healthy and workout so that I can change my life and be a healthier and happier person! So when I see the pull up bar I will not be intimidated anymore!

Jake Ryan? He doesn't even know you exist!!

My family and some friends know that I love the '80s! I was born during that time, I love movies that take place in the 80s- John Hughes movies especially, and remake '80s movie- The Wedding Singer, T9!! One of my all-time favorite '80s movies is Sixteen Candles. Sam is a normal teenage girl who hates the way she looks and has a crush on the most popular guy in school, a senior- Jake Ryan! In the end he picks her, which is so unrealistic but hey, it's a movie and that's what we love about them!! The reason I mention this is to segue into this....

Today I got an email from my friend, Ellery she is my college roommate and a fellow blogger. She read a blog about a blogger basically setting up a Christian dating service through her blog. Readers get to post blogs about themselves or their single friends and family and if someone reads it and is interested then let the sparks fly.

So I was thinking about it. I have a lot of great, good looking friends...THAT'S YOU!!! I figured why not ask you guys to help me on my quest for my Jake Ryan...No not the real one! My criteria- he needs to be single, have a job, a strong Christian, with a great sense of humor, who loves to laugh, and doesn't mind my crazy dog, Finn, it'd be great if he loved or at least liked football!! I know I'm not perfect, nowhere near but I'm working on it (see past blog entries) and I'd love to have someone to share it with! 

Be thinking about it, praying about it! Feel free to message me on facebook or leave a comment here. I know this is a little different than the normal blogs but I figured I'd try it out! Let me know what you think! ;)

Working out gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy...

Happy Tuesday Friends!!


It was one of those days at work...nothing went right, people I were depending on for information didn't do their job so I left work feeling annoyed and frustrated! I was debating whether or not to go work out, I was feeling weepy and tired and just plan ticked off!


But then Elle Woods voice came in to my head..."Working out gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, happy people just don't shoot their husbands...they just don't." Now if you know me well you know that I'm a movie buff and can go 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon like it's my job; so the fact that a movie quote came into my head is no big surprised.


Now I didn't want to shoot anyone, like the quote says, but the endorphins part sounded like a great idea after my rough day. So I got on the treadmill and just took all of my bad day out on the treadmill. IT WAS GREAT!! I REALLY did help!! After my workout I felt more relaxed and got the endorphins boost I needed.

Thanks Elle Woods!! You made a yucky day end happy!! : D

Chili's...Wait! What?!

So things have been going well, I've been making smart choices with food and have been working out. My Mom came in to town this weekend and while we were out Mom, Steph, and I decided to go to lunch. The consensus was Chili's but I nervous. My favorite dish there is the Cajun Chicken Pasta! Just in case you don't know what it is, let me fill you in. Penne pasta with blackened Cajun chicken topped with Alfredo sauce and tomatoes. Sounds amazing right?!

AMAZINGLY UNHEALTHY!! I knew that I couldn't waste all of my hard work from last week on one meal that I would regret eating immediately, so I chose something else. I branched out and picked another lunch off the menu! Now for those of you that have been to Chili's with me, this is a HUGE (no pun intended) deal! Once I find something I like on a menu that's all I order! But I was good, I got the grilled salmon with grilled broccoli and a glass of water. I was so proud of myself that I didn't give in to temptation and go to my old staple!


So the purpose of this blog is just to say that if I can do it, you can! It may be a little more expensive than your favorite menu item, but in the end it'll be soooo worth it!! WE CAN DO THIS!!

Let's Get Physical!

Happy Friday everyone!!

I went to the gym last night to work out with my favorite gym partner, Teresa! I did not wear my shorts and felt much more comfortable!! It's been so nice having Teresa to workout with; just to spend that time hanging out and catching up! I'm really going to miss her once her week membership expires! :(

So we did the treadmill, I walked 1.41 miles and burned 233 calories and then I did the stationary bike for 2 miles. After the workout I braved the scale...I just wanted to see if I had made any progress with losing weight, although I wasn't expecting anything since it hasn't been a week yet. But as the numbers appeared my heart skipped a beat, I've lost 1.5 lbs!! It was so encouraging to see that my working out and eating smarter is paying off! Every little bit counts and I'm really excited about it!!

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement!! It is such a blessing to have such amazing friends and family!! :) I want to say a special thank you for all of the facebook comments and messages; it truly has meant so much to me!! Mom, Dad, Steph, MeeMom and DeeDad- thank you for your wisdom and support and for always making me feel like I'm beautiful just the way I am! Steph, thanks for eating green beans 3 nights this week and for the beautiful necklace!! I couldn't do it without each of you!!

Gym Etiquette

What a Monday- I had a rough day at work so I was looking forward to going to the gym and blowing off some steam! My attire was cotton shorts and a t-shirt. As I looked around I noticed that I was the only one wearing shorts..hmm...

I figured out why I was alone in a sea of yoga pants and capris... as I was on the stationary bike my shorts were so uncomfortable, riding up my legs, making my thighs rub together!UGH!It was not a pretty or comfortable sight! Obviously I was self-conscious with the shorts on. As I looked around I felt like a rookie who was the butt of the joke. I tried to improvise by using my "sweat towel" as a makeshift skirt. Needless to say I looked ridiculous and felt like a goober, but it made me laugh and now I know one of the important rules of Gym Etiquette! I'll NEVER make that mistake again!!

Gym Tastic

I was overwhelmed by the wonderful feedback that I received from family and friends yesterday after I posted my first entry! Thank you all for your love, support, and encouragement! It means so much to me that you're willing to support me in this life changing decision I've made! I am blessed beyond measure for having each one of you in my life!



My Last "Fat" Picture

 Now let's get to the good stuff....

Day 1 at the gym went well! I joined a women's only gym and for me that makes a big difference! No offense to the guys but I'm just too self-conscious for them see me workout! The gym itself is great- there's a ton of different things to do- there are fun classes to take, tons of machines to use, and a lot to do to make it both motivational and fun! My first day there and I didn't even have to go alone!! I have an AMAZING friend who after reading my first blog entry yesterday told me that she wanted to go to the gym with me today. Teresa, thank you for your support and encouragement!! I'm so glad that we are taking this journey together! I love you girl!!

So once we got there we started out on the elliptical- I had never done one before and was worried about breaking my neck on it. Teresa helped encourage me to try it, which I did for a quarter of a mile, after that my knees said no more....so we go on the treadmills, it was great to have someone there to talk to make the time go by and go by it did, a mile later we decided to change it up. I got on the stationary bike while Teresa did some weights, we finished it off with a protein enhanced fat burning smoothie. Overall it was a GREAT first day!! :)

I promise I won't post something on here every day but I figured since this was a big milestone it was an important entry! I'm looking forward to seeing how much I progress and how much more I'm able to do once I start losing the weight! Thank you for your support!! I decided to add a picture from before I started my workout today just so we can see how much I change during this process.