Day 4...swimming

Went swimming for an hour today.  Just did laps and never felt so good in my life!  I love the water...you don't have to feel like a big huge person.  (Okay, unless you jump in and then it's like being at SeaWorld.) But after that, you can float or swim for hours.  Or, at least I can.  :)

Eating was easy since I had stir-fry at my grandma's.  I love it when other people want to cook dinner!

Tomorrow...Richard Simmons...yeah, you read that right!

150 DAYS to go!  Weigh in coming soon!

Just Do It...Even If You Suck!!!

Day 3...Pilates for Wimps (i.e. me)

Okay...food--no problem!  I can count calories-especially with a super simple app on my phone.  Really, now it's all about the exercise.  I've still been a little sore from my working out everyday (told you I was bad at this), so I figured I'd do my Pilates for Wimps DVD I bought from the Dollar Store.  (Yeah, you know it's gotta be a best selling working dvd when you buy it at the Dollar Tree!)

Basically the premise of the DVD is that anybody can do Pilates and that they offer a mix of pilates moves mixed with modified pilates moves so you can do this even if you are a huge sissy-la-la who can't even hack running one block.  (that's me, by the way!)

So, I did that with no issues and keep thinking that I should really work toward stepping it up.  I think I'd like to aim for running again sometime next week, but we'll see.  Of course then at least I'd up the comedy factor for my neighbors that might be up early in the morning and my husband.

In the meantime, Day 4 is coming!!!

151 days left...JUST DO IT...even if you suck!

Day 2...Step Aerobics...(slightly adjusted)

So day 2 was pretty good!  I did use some of my exercise points.  Mostly because we had other friends over and I decided to make some lower calorie cupcakes (thank you, Pinterest!) and I wanted one.  So I ate one.  But, I did really good!

I started off by working out with a step aerobic DVD that my friend made me.  It's by some guy named Gilad and is so 80's it's not funny.  But it works, and I like it.  Of course I don't have a step thing, so I used our wii balance board.  That works though.  Felt pretty good too!  I didn't run though, since I am horrible at it.  Figured I would to other things and maybe go back to the whole running thing when I got really desperate.  We'll see.

Day 3 will consist of pilates just to keep mixing it up...

Remember Just Do It!!! Even if you suck!

152 days to go!!!

Day 1...Did I tell you I hate running???

So yesterday was Labor Day...yeah, people say don't start any sort of new lifestyle/diet thing on a holiday...but I figured I can always find an excuse to put it off, so I just decided on Sunday to start...I'd say I did pretty good for the most part.

 I decided Sunday afternoon I would run on Monday morning.  Now have I ever mentioned how much I hate running? Maybe hate isn't strong enough...despise, loathe, hmm I'll have to think about a better word.  Now don't get me wrong, you have to run for some things...tennis, football, basketball, baseball, if a T-Rex is chasing you..then it makes sense.  But running just to run?  (I'm sure my running friends are ready to beat me now, but c'mon guys, you know me!)  So on to the adventure...and let me tell you if people were to read this they'd be busting up by the time I'm done so here goes.  I got up at 7:30 (a horrible hour for anyone to have to be up), and got ready for my run.  Then my wonderful husband offered to run with me.  I said okay, but warned him that since I've put off exercising for the last 2 weeks, that I was going to start out slow and aim for a couple blocks.  He's so wonderful he didn't laugh, he just got ready and we went for our run.  Yeah...I made it a block and was tired, feeling crappy, and realizing I'm probably the slowest runner in the history of runners.  At this point, I'm thinking all I really need to do if a T-Rex is chasing me is just make sure I stay near someone else that I can throw behind me while I go hide under a bush.

But after I did that, I decided to exercise with Wii Fit (who says a little exercise can't be fun), and later when we went to my grandma's I swam laps for about 30 minutes.   Dinner was even pretty healthy since we had shish-ka-bobs.  (Is that how you spell it?)  Yeah, I felt pretty good...decent breakfast, decent lunch, cleaning grandma's house to earn a few extra exercise bonuses for my calorie app, a kabobs for dinner.

Then Jeff and Emily came over for games and I tanked a little.  2 pieces of a Totino's pizza (and I mean two pieces that equaled 1/4 of it...not two pizzas...yay me!) and 5 Oreos later...not feeling too hot about myself.  But I thought...forget it!  I did okay and didn't eat the bag of Oreos and didn't go nuts today so good for me!!!

The best part is I've found a new mantra for this little adventure for myself...(okay, it was on Pinterest and I totally stole the picture for my phone, but whatever!  Don't judge me!)  It's a Nike swoosh that says "Just Do It   Even if you suck!"

Totally going to work for me!!!  Day 1 down...153 to go!

Before...

We're going to Disneyland!  (Well, barring the end of the world that the Mayans and extremist Christian groups that make the rest of us look like kooks are ridiculously predicting.)  In 157 days we will be flying down to party with Mickey, Minnie, and of course, Capt. Jack!  So, what does that mean...that means that I have 154 days to get my butt in gear (and with tons of needed prayer) get exercising!  We went 5 years ago and that was a size smaller for me.  And, since I've tried everything else and nothing really works for me, I'm just going to plunge in and hope for the best!  I've got to do this...not for any obvious reason that most people spout like better health, or being a good example for my kid or random stuff that while is important aren't what my motivation are...but for the rides!  I'm going to be able to go on every ride I want and not look like a fat tourist!  We'll see...

I love my iphone!

So today, I decided to attempt the weeds in the front yard.  Yeah, that pretty much ends with me using the weed eater on them all and then spraying them with vinegar in the hopes that the pinterest pin that said vinegar kills weeds is right.  Before I started though, I decided to see if yesterday's sermon was on the church website.  IT WAS!!!  Score!  So I loaded it up, and put on the headphones and got started.  It is so great to know I can miss a Sunday (or 3 this month), and not miss the lesson.  Before I had a smartphone, yeah, that would not have happened.  In fact, if I hadn't given in to my materialism, I wouldn't even be able to do that.  AND, if my husband hadn't found a way to convince me to get internet, we wouldn't be able to listen without it costing us data on our phones.

So really, I should say I love the fact that I'm human and live in America.  I not only live in a country where I have the freedom to buy whatever kind of internet, phone, computer, or house with a tendency to have weeds growing in my front yard; but I have the freedom to worship Christ as I feel led to and can listen to the sermons from the pastor I have the freedom to learn from.  Think about that!  We were born and live in a time where technology is insanely amazing, and in a country where we can pursue using that technology in not only a way that helps our lives for ease of things, but also to enrich them!

In reality, I don't love these things...I'm super appreciative of them!

Ultimately, I really love (in the real-not so materialistic kind) my freedom that has been bought by Christ and that He has chosen to bless my family.  We're not rich or always have the money we'd love to have to buy things that we want, and really have to work hard to take a vacation or do some things.  But, we have been given life, we're provided with food, shelter, and clothing, and obviously we have enough to pay for the internet and phones so I can do random things like find interesting things on pinterest, catch up with friends on facebook, or even type in a silly little blog.

Just think...all this came from the thought when I was done with the yard, that I really enjoy my phone.  Hmm...

IT'S OVER!!!!

 Got a call at 6 am this morning from a co-worker, and they told me there was no school today!  Do you know what that meant?  That there was a settlement today!!!!  Woo-hoo!  I've never been so super excited to go to work in my life!  I mean seriously excited, like no need for coffee or positive thinking or find something happy...just a complete happiness that settled in because things can get back to some semblance of normal tomorrow!  It's such a fabulous, wonderful, happy day!  The weight of worry and stress is gone and I can finally enjoy a beautiful afternoon without feeling exhausted and drained!  I am so happy!

Now, hopefully, things won't need to get to this point or this bad next time there's another contract negotiation...

Can't wait til school tomorrow...