Fired up!!!

The last few days have been amazing. I've been within my goals and my workouts have been so much fun. I've really been enjoying the Push Circuits for CLX and I'm getting better and better at Fire 30 each time. I really brought the intensity to Saturday's workout. My 4 year old son danced around and even tried some of the moves while I was doing the exercise. He's been really interested in "mommy's exercises" and he wanted to exercise with me. He ended up hanging onto me for some of the combo routines, which made it more challenging, which I was okay with so I allowed it. We actually made it into sort of a game. He was fascinated by the Fire Drills, and was disappointed when the next day I did the Stretch 10 and there weren't any. He also encourages me to do another exercise (sort of like he's my little personal trainer) and the time with him is great. We're still working on the when he goes off to play with his toys, to respect mommy's exercise space. But it's a great experience all the same. I tell him how much I love it when he exercises with me, and he gets so excited when it's a move he can do. I wish I would have been able to get it on video.

I did the TurboFire: 45EZ. It was my first time doing it, so that's always a bit awkward, but I still got a good workout in which always feels really good. I've just had so much energy lately, and I've really enjoyed being in closer contact with my friends. My best friend and MOH, Sarah is one of my new accountability buddies, she's been doing the Tubo Jam videos, which I will be trying myself here in the near future. My friend Ben just started P90X today, so I checked in with him to see how his workout went. I always get really excited when my friends and I are working to better health and we keep in touch and support each other. I also have my accountability buddy on myfitnesspal.com, who has also just become a beach body coach. She has been just awesome with the support and also sharing about her eating and exercise. She is also doing Turbo Jam.

My eating was pretty good. I'm really excited about dinner. We had cucumber and egg sandwiches with were fantastic. I made a dressing to spread a little on the bread and to use for the cucumber and grape tomatoes on the side. It turned out pretty awesome, although I think I'm going to go with maybe juice from only half a lime instead of a whole, and then use either red wine or balsamic vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar. Perhaps also had a bit of fresh ground black pepper. But here's the recipe:

4 Tbs kraft reduced fat mayo with olive oil
juice from 1/2 lime or 2 Tbs lime juice (or to preference)
1 Tbs red wine or balsamic vinegar, or whatever you prefer
1 to 2 Tbs cilantro, chopped
habanero sauce to taste, non vinegar based (I used Melinda's Chipotle & XXXtra hot), you could also use chili sauce like Sriracha.

Mix in a small ramekin or mug or small prep bowl until smooth.

Makes 2 servings.

I took a little of it and spread it onto two Orowheat sandwich thins, with one egg over medium and thinly sliced cucumber.

I then served on the side about 1 half sliced cucumber (per plate) and some grape tomatoes. The remaining dressing was divided among the two plates and drizzled on top of the veggies. It was such a satisfying meal, and really versatile. Also it only took me about 10 to 20 mins to make, was super easy and looked like it was more complicated than it really was. Ah, I love that.

PUSH IT!

Last night was ChaLean Extreme Push Circuit 1. I had for my exercise schedule to do the strength training and then do my C25K, just like I did when I'd have the burn circuits.

It was intense and awesome! And it totally kicked my ass! When I got on the treadmill, I did my walking for 8mins and then started running for 2mins. I can tell that I'm getting stronger, my form is better, but my legs were dead. I got through the first 10min intervals, but I hit muscle failure. I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to finish my run, but really proud that I had put so much into the weight training that my body needed more time to recover. I'm really looking forward to rest of the Push Circuits this month.

Day 14

Today was a momentous day actually. At first glance, it starts like any other. I got up, went to work, ate my usual oatmeal for breakfast, I drink my coffee, I track my calories, my life and existence as i know it now. The days count down to my wedding, 4 months and two days, so much to do. But life goes on in the midst of it all. I go to work, I sleep, I take care of and play with my lovely son.

I wonder everyday, every workout, when will I finally have melted enough layers to see myself. Today, I look in the mirror and notice something, my face is thinner, it's small, and perhaps only I notice it, but the way my hair lays, the way underneath my chin looks, there's less there. It feels like it's been so long that I've been doing this and it has and it hasn't. This bout is only a couple weeks, but then I realize that it shouldn't be looked at as "only" two weeks. It should be something to be celebrated.

So Today is August 1st!

1. it has been 2 weeks, 14 entire days of watching my food intake/calories!

2.. I have been exercising regularly for 2 weeks!

3. I completed the 1st week of  the ChaLean Extreme TurboFire Hybrid Schedule. 1 week down, 19 to go!

Every day it gets easier. It wasn't all that long ago that I was wondering how in the world I ever maintained a lower weight, how I didn't weigh 200 to 300lbs in high school. How did I eat less food? It would seem nearly impossible to stay under 1700 or 1500 cals. But it's getting easier and easier, especially the days I exercise, naturally.

Today may have started like every other, and it's ended similar to the days in the last two weeks, but it's not like every other. It's been a day to actually notice where I am going. I still can't even imagine the results, what it would look like or feel like, but I know that it will be unbelievable when I try on my dress and it fits.

Today is also day one for starting to give up meat, for at least the next four months. I slightly failed today in that I had forgotten a lunch and had a weight watchers smart ones meal in the freezer at work. It had a little bit of turkey sausage in it, so I was a little bit unsuccessful in having a meatless day, but it was the only slip up.

DAY 14!!!

Booyah!!!!!

I feel great. I was all psyched up for my new workout regime, but I'm still a bit nervous. If I can pull this off, my body will be pretty well on it's way to something pretty amazing for me. I'll be stronger, and I'll feel better all around, have more energy and maybe more confidence. Perhaps I'll finally be peeking through these layers to actually see who and what I am. The idea of the vulnerability is scary, but I'm just trying to focus on one day and one workout, one meal at a time. Will people like what they see when the real me shows through?

I did day one of the TurboFire ChaLean Extreme Hybrid (I nicknamed TurboLean to save time). It was yoga, which was SO MUCH better than the yoga in P90X! It was a challenge, but was nice at the same time. Then I totally kicked ass on my run intervals! I really pushed it. Felt so good to be running again. Tomorrow is supposed to be my rest day, but I may move it around to Saturday since I have my co-worker, Brooke's, bridal shower. It's in Cottage Grove, so it'll be a bit of a tighter schedule than normal, and Wednesday afternoons are a good time to squeeze in workouts.

Day 9

TurboLean!!!

So I got my hands on TurboFire, and I am going to try it out with the ChaLean Extreme TurboFire Hybrid schedule. I also scheduled in all of my Aggressive C25K workouts as well as my first running 5k, which will be the Montster Mash on Sunday October 30th. (You can click on either of these pics for more information on the program accordingly).

I'm pretty excited about trying out my new schedule tonight doing the TurboFire Stretch 40 and then it's C25K: walk 27mins and run for 3. I will  be dividing up into 3 intervals, walk for 9 mins and then run for 1. I'm also getting really psyched up to be starting to make the switch to vegetarian. I've been working on a shopping list so we can be well organized for it. I will be posting the entire hybrid schedule with my notes on my Calandar page, but here's what the first month looks like:

Weekend Update 1: here's to the first of many.

...and then this was dessert!

Friday night's dinner

It's always a challenge to keep track on the weekends. I didn't keep track on Saturday, which was a caloric bust, but I alright today and Friday was very good. I totally "vegged out". We ate a lot but it was fruits and vegetables. It was so good! We devoured the vegetables, and I got the smaller tray since it had the smaller amount of dip. Carson is way too in love with ranch, so we stopped buying it ages ago. If we had gotten the tray with the larger container, we would have eaten all the dip, so this was definitely the better option. I want to get into making my own hummus and dips that are lower calories and will be good with vegetables...especially when we end up going to raw foods in a few months.

Also on Friday I did ChaLean extreme, and then 10 mins walking. I was supposed to do 30, but I decided instead to work on my kitchen, which I got a lot done and burned even more calories. I'm really kicking ass on getting my kitchen in order.

On August 1st, we'll making a change to our eating plan. We are going to go vegetarian, for at least a few months. Carson has been considering it for a permanent life change, but we'll see how that goes after the wedding. So we'll be vegetarian in August and September, and then we'll go Vegan in October and Raw foods in November. Course, thanksgiving will be a challenge. I was afraid to do this at first, but now I'm excited. It feels like a fresh start. We both have had troubles learning to be healthy Omnivores, so starting over with being an Herbivor for awhile at least will help up prepare our bodies and minds for whatever way we go with our food journey in December.

For the next week I will be creating a plan for the grocery list, especially our evening meals and how we will prepare the foods to make it easier to put together the meals. The change will be hardest on Miles, so I'm not sure how to address that. I may just keep meat around for him so  he can get the fats and proteins that he needs. I'll have to do more research into it as far as kids go.

All and all I am happy with the last week and weekend. I didn't get all the workouts done that I had scheduled, but I got over 300 exercise minutes, burned over 2000 calories and was under on my calories nearly everyday of this week. I have to take it one day at a time and one week at a time.

Here are the results for Friday and today, as I said, I didn't track on Saturday.

Day5

Day 7

Trying to listen better to my body, and have no fear of it's limitations

I always hate it when I start a new exercise routine and end up hurting myself. It happened when I started running, and the last time I started doing ChaLean Extreme. It can end up derailing me. I feel terrible and awful because I'll be injured and unable to do anything due to shin splints, or severe back pain. I would hold back to avoid this from happening, but it doesn't get me anywhere.

So I've been trying to push it, but not over do it with this round. I can't afford to injure myself form my stupidity or impatience. Chalean Johnson also shows you how you can create your own resistance, so if I end up going a little lighter, I can adjust as I need to to work my muscles to their limits. But again, I am still anxious about getting hurt, and losing more and more progress. I LOVE the feeling after I get through my workouts. It's hard and I may have to force myself a bit to get going, but I focus on how great it will feel in the end when I get that physical high and also the mental boost of logging my minutes and calories burned.

My hamstrings have felt really tight today and also sore and a bit like they were a little over worked.  Not to the point of injury, but felt like it was a warning side that I needed to give them a rest. So I took today as my second rest day in the week as opposed to it being on Sunday. I am concerned that it would have been fine and that I shouldn't worry so much about it. That maybe I'm using the "fear" of my body's limitations as an excuse not to exercise today because I'm tired (which I am). What if I do the same thing tomorrow and the next and the next? I can't allow it though. I have to stay on task. I have to keep moving forward, give my body this day of rest and then push it again tomorrow. It has to change. I can't hide beneath these layers anymore, because it's no longer comfortable and it gets less and less so every day.

I haven't worked on my Chinese much the last few days. It was fun while we were camping talking about it and practicing it slightly with my sister (she was a teacher in China for the last year and is going back for one more year). I misplaced my ipod in my house somewhere which has the podcasts that I've been using to help with learning. I also have been busy with my new routine of tracking, exercising and keeping this blog. Maybe I needed a short break. It's been a busy few weeks. And we're getting down to really having to get our ducks in a row for the wedding.

Day 4

It was all about the food....

Today, I had my usual oatmeal breakfast, and for lunch the other half of the sandwich I got yesterday from Safeway. I didn't do well on my fruit and veggie intake as I would have liked, but I am really proud of myself today for several choices that I made, since they were different than what I would have done normally.

First, it was payday, so I took Carson out to Jack in the Box for dinner. I planned out to get the pita, which is one of the best choices on the menu. I had it all planned out ahead of time, and I stuck with it. normally, I would have gotten a burger or something that was a lot higher in calories. The only mistake was that I forgot to order it without the grilled onions. They're cooked in butter, and there's no control over how much would be used. I used to work there so it does make it easier to understand these minor details.

I also gave a ride to my son's aunt Missy. She had a class to go to and it was right across the street from dutch bros. ....And anyone will tell you, I LOVE Dutch Bros. sooooo very much. My mouth was watering over the idea of a blended black and white mocha. It sounded so sweet, and cold and icy. The dark chocolate syrup they have.....ooooohhh so fabulous. I was thinking about it the entire drive, especially with the warm weather. I also got my exercise clothes on before I left to pick Missy up so that I could do my workout as soon as I got back home.

Normally I would have gone to dutch bros gotten the drink and come home and may or may not have worked out. Instead I had a 1/2 cup of raspberry sorbet with 2 Tbs of sugar free chocolate syrup. It was so good, and a decision I was really proud of. This time feels different. I even started purging my cookbooks. I'm really trying to focus on food, and also trying to learn to not be afraid to do the heavy lifting for my workouts. I've also been working on the connection between the two. It was a good day. It wasn't an easy one, but there was nothing horribly hard. Here's to it being easier as I have more and more days behind me.

Day 3

Day 2 Update

Today wasn't bad at all. I began Day 1 of ChaLean Extreme as well as my C25K plan. I feel fantastic. It's been awhile since I've felt this good. I've also began doing more and more research into food addiction. My fiance wants to do a radical change to our plan, which may end up being just what I need. He wants to make a go of going vegetarian for a couple months and then go vegan for another month, and then to try eating mostly raw foods for the remaining month. After that, we will go back to being omnivores, but I'm not sure what our plan will be at that point.

I know that I could do this without going vegetarian, but I think that Carson is looking for something that will have more boundaries for him. I want to support him. At first I was going to argue with him, but then I realized why I was going to argue. It was the voice of an addict that doesn't want to give up their drug. I wanted sugar, and fats and to be able to eat whatever I want. but that philosophy has gotten me nowhere to be honest. So we'll start to research and prepare to begin cutting out meat in August.

Now I will say I am aware that going vegetarian does not guarantee by any means healthy eating or weight loss. You have to still make the right choices for food and to not eat too much of it. It is also important to make sure that you get the right nutrients, proteins and such. Since we'll be able to eat dairy and eggs at first that will be not as difficult as the last two months. Which is where the major research comes in. I am actually feeling alright about this, because it feels like there is something that is telling me that my body needs this. It'll be like a good detox and with the lessons we learn, we will be able to apply to our life as we step forward into married life.

Day 2

Above is my day. I ended up not having such a healthy dinner since my roommate and his fiancee offered to buy us dinner. I did get a small fry and not a medium, and I took it as extra motivation to get my exercise in for the evening no matter what. So it ended up working out to where I was still under my calories for the day when you net out the exercise with my calorie intake.

I am actually pretty proud of myself today. The walk to the store was unplanned. My roommate Jer, wanted to go up there to get something for him and his fiancee, Amber to drink. It's a lot more fun anyway to walk there with friends then to drive. And I got to listen to a couple Astral Projection tracks on Carson's iPod, which are definitely going into my "running music".

Goals: July

Fitness & Weight loss

• Begin Burn Phase of Chalean Extreme. (about 45mins 5x's a week)

• Begin 16wk C25K program (30mins 3x's a week)

Home

• Organize kitchen cabinets
• Go through kitchen tools and appliances to figure out what to keep and what to send to Carson's parents' garage sale or to Goodwill
• Begin planning new floor plan for 'dining area' and 'computer areas'

Nutrition

• Eat at least two servings of fruit and/or vegetables a day
• Try one or two new recipes or ideas a week
• Stay within calorie ranges and get in water

Chinese

• Complete two to three sessions a week
• Review vocabulary and dialogues for speaking practice
• Continue learning Characters for Fluenz vocabulary and for Chineseclass101.com vocab.