2013 ---> 2014

2013

The major events I guess you could call them would be of course 1) moving to ND. I have never lived outside of Utah let alone 10 minutes from where I grew up so moving to ND was kind of a huge deal for me. As much as I miss our family and that part is the hardest, it really has been such a great experience. I feel like I'm really "finding" myself. I'm enjoying learning about other people and their backgrounds and I've really enjoyed Ben and I being able to just focus on us and our lives together and being able to figure out what's next in our journey. 

2) both of my grandparents on my moms side passing away within a month of each other. I miss them terribly but unfortunately it is part of life. I just wish it wasn't so hard on the rest of us. 

Besides that I can't think of any huge events its been a really crazy year I feel like it really flew past and I know tomorrow is just another day on the calendar but I'm excited for a "fresh start" and for the greatness to come. 

2014

I found this awesome "list" thingy ma bob on Pinterest and I thought it was a great idea instead of writing out resolutions. This past year I may or may not have had a resolution to shave my legs once a week. Ya it gets bad when you have blonde hair because you can't see them as easily. Anywhoo... moving on. So here are some of the topics on the list and what I wrote:

A bad habit I'm going to break:

interrupting people

A new skill I'd like to learn:

cake decorating, teaching Zumba, get better at playing the guitar

A person I'd like to be more like:

Ben, My family, The Dali Lama

A good deed I'm going to do:

I couldn't think of anything to specific but I would like to volunteer and maybe make a quilt for a shelter. And also try and do some sort of good deed no matter how simple or small each day.

A place I'm going to visit:

Kenya,England,New Zealand (We will see what finances allow)

A book I'd like to read:

I have a whole Pinterest board on this as well as a "goodreads" list so I'm just going to try and read at least one book a month. 

A new food I'd like to try:

quinoa (I'm open to suggestions on this one I couldn't think of anything)

Weapons of Mass Reduction Week 8

Wednesday- Insanity Cardio Power and Resistance

Yes you read that right. I worked out one stinking day this week. Umm... one is better than 0 right? What a week! I really fell off the wagon. Between mindless snacking and cravings it was rough. I didn't log my food Saturday or Sunday (kind of disappointed about that). Honestly, if I don't lose weight in the next week and half I will be ok but I don't want to undo everything I've worked my butt off for. I'm really going to focus on drinking lots of water. Trying to eat something healthy and filling before choosing something unhealthy and I'm really going to try and get those workouts in. I think if I do those things I'll be happy with the outcome and then hit the new year strong again! The weather is really making it rough. I hate that it gets dark so soon it's depressing. And the overcast is killing me!!! I need sunshine. My sis in law sent me her happy lamp so I'm excited to try that out hopefully it will help. 

It is very painful to write this but as of this morning I am up .8 lbs since last week. GRR! Ok moving on! 

Seriously though. I have a cooking blog and then I blog about weight loss...wowsa!

Weapons of Mass Reduction Week 7

As of today there is officially about 2 weeks left of this Holiday Fitness Challenge! Eye yi yi! So this week... Uffda! (Something I learned here in ND) It's been rough week. Well I lost a little motivation and and didn't do so well on working out or eating for that matter. I tracked everything I ate which is good.. Insanity was hard for me to work in this week. Not that I didn't have the time it was just I didn't wake up early enough to work out before I went to work and by the time I got home we barely had time to eat dinner, relax, get ready for the next day and go to bed. I felt overwhelmed on those days by trying to work in Insanity. I really need to figure out a plan. I really miss doing my weight lifting class at Gold's so I'm going to try and work that into my weekly workout schedule.

  Saturday  Insanity Cardio Abs and T25 Lower Body Focus
Sunday Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit

As of today I am down 2.6 lbs from last week! YAY! However, its not just about losing the weight I want to get fit which is why I need to focus on my workout schedule too. I am really happy about my weight loss so far and I feel great.

These are my Christmas nails I got as a my non food reward for losing 10lbs! 

Happy Holidays and Christmas Party

On Saturday December 7th it was Happy Holidays at my work. They have done this for the past 24 years. All the employees donate their time and they give chiropractic services for free in exchange for non-perishable food items and toiletry items to donate to people in need in the community. On a normal day we see 4 patients every 15 minutes maybe... on Happy Holidays its between 8-12 patients every 15 minutes! It was crazy busy but so much fun! I loved the happy feeling and it was such a nice way to start out the Christmas spirit. The doctors bought us all Starbucks for the morning, and pizza for lunch. They had cookies and crackers and cheese sitting out for all the patients too! Just an amazing experience I absolutely loved it! 

Top picture: Me, Brittani, Dr. Laci, Arika, Callie, Carley
Left Picture: Brittani and I, Right Picture: Dr. Jodi and I

That evening was our work christmas party. We went to a local steakhouse and then bowling afterwords. It was so much fun! The bowling alley was the smallest alley I have ever seen! We had the whole thing to ourselves. They put us all on different teams and then after each game they would give money to us for random things like if you got a spare on #7 or something. It was so much fun!

Arika and her winnings for the night, Michelle and Carley, Me, Dr. Laci, and Dr. Greg's wife Deb.

Weapons of Mass Reduction Week 6

Monday- Insanity Fit Test

Tuesday- Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Wednesday- Shoveled 6inches of snow off the driveway (yes that counts) AND Insanity Cardio Power and Resistance

Thursday-Insanity cardio recovery 

Friday-Pure Cardio
Saturday- Plyometric Cardio Circuit

I think this week went went pretty well until Saturday. It was our happy holidays at work (which will be another post) and my work party. There was food everywhere all day! I tried to do correct proportions and drink lots of water. That night we went to a restaurant for the party that I had never been to before. I tried to look up the menu beforehand but it wasn't available. 

Sunday started out Ok but then my GERD started really acting up it hang been that bad for awhile so I'm not sure what set it off.

Anyway, as of this morning I am down .8 lbs. I'll take it (well I have too) but I need to step it up this week and really get back on track.

Weapons of Mass Reduction Week 5

Monday: 30 min on the treadmill of inclines and intervals

Tuesday: 1.5 mile run with Duke

Wednesday: Nada

Thursday: Turkey Trot 5K! I finished in 39:24 averaging about an 11:44min/mile (Really happy with this time!) It was about 20º that morning and I dressed really warm. It's better than freezing though! I took off my warm headband and gloves about halfway through the run. I had 2 pairs of socks on, running tights, sweats, sports bra, exercise tee, running long sleeve, and a fleece...

Friday:Nada

Saturday: I did the Nike+ Fitness Assessment on our Kinect and T25 AB Intervals

I felt like I had a sporatic week of eating. On Thanksgiving I just tried to watch my portions but not deprive myself of something because I knew I would just end up craving and binging. Friday I didn't really track my calories. 

Tried to get back on track with counting calories Saturday and Sunday hopefully be back in full swing this week. Now that the 5K is done and over with I need to have something else to "train" for. I like and need to have goals to get me motivated. I've been working in the Insanity workouts a few times a week and I think I'm going to start that program today. 

As of this morning I am down 1.4lbs. Still staying on track to get to that 20 lbs loss by the end of the year. When I started trying to lose weight in the summer I made a list of non-food rewards for each 10 lbs I lost. First on the list when I lose 10lbs I get to have my nails or toenails done! Since its winter time and its easier to paint my toenails than nails I am going to get my nails done! I love having something to look forward too and motivate myself.

Here is my rewards list:

10lbs Nails or toenails done

20lbs Fitbit

30lbs  Under armor or Viewsport clothing item

40lbs- new jeans

50lbs- new workout shoes

60lbs-new outfit/mani and pedi (haven't fully decided yet)

Any ideas or thoughts on some fitness goals I should work towards would be greatly appreciated! I love input and new ideas because my brain doesn't always work at 100%. I've been reading runsforcookies quite faithfully she has an inspiring story and she is always putting together some sort of training plan. She only runs though.. I would like to be well rounded for a better overall fitness for me.