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. 

A North Dakota Thanksgiving

First off I am so angry I stink at taking pictures! I had the table set up all cute and a beautiful pie and food and I didn't get one stinking picture. I wish there was a way I could go back on my face time chats and get a pic from them but I can't as far as I know. 

Anyways, this was my first Thanksgiving away from my parents. Ben has had 2 while he was serving his mission in England. I was a little sad and bummed and so was Ben. Last week I was talking to my friend who works at the daycare and is also in our ward. She is married with one little one and one on the way. I asked her about her plans for Thanksgiving and she said they really didn't have any so I invited her and her family over. She agreed and we were both really excited! Wednesday night I made the pumpkin pie and a special cranberry with feta cheese tossed salad. On Thursday morning after the 5K I started putting everything else together and we started picking up around the house. I put the turkey in (it was boneless and just a small lil' 3lb thing) I also cut up regular potatoes and put them in the crock pot, and cut, cooked and mashed sweet potatoes. We went to Walmart to get some rockstars and other drinks for dinner (I have never seen Walmart so dead it was actually kind of nice.) We felt bad so we made sure we went through the self checkout as our way of trying to protest for making nice people work on Thanksgiving. Around 330pm I took the turkey out and covered it with tinfoil then I put the sweet potato casserole in the oven and called my mom to wish her Happy Thanksgiving! Her and my dad were up in Washington visiting my brother and his family so I was able to facetime with everyone! It was so fun to see them I'm so thankful for technology! Around 430pm our guests arrived. My friend Carolyn made home made stuffing (it was amazing) and an apple pie. Her husband is from Ethiopia so this whole Thanksgiving thing is still pretty new to him. We had 2 bottles of sparkling cider and we couldn't find our bottle opener. My friends husband did a special trick and opened them both up it was really cool! Ben turned on a movie for their son and we enjoyed our dinner. We just sat around and visited and watched some kid movies (Planes and Monsters University). It was very relaxing and chill and it was nice to have some company. We enjoyed pie both turned out delicious. After they left I went into the kitchen and noticed my crock pot was still on and then a lightbulb in my head went off... Whoops! I completely forget about the mashed potatoes! LOL all in all I think I did pretty good for the first Thanksgiving I was in charge of. 

I feel so blessed in my life. I have more than I will ever need and I have amazing people and relationships in my life. I am so grateful for all that I have.

Hope y'all had a fantastic Thanksgiving or maybe first day of Hanukkah!

Weapons of Mass Reduction Week 4

This week has really been a struggle for me. Just over a week ago on Sunday we went to an open house for a home for sale. The stairs were really narrow and I fell down the stairs and hit my head pretty good on a hard wall. My head was killing me and my neck hurt and I had a bad headache. I probably should have gone and got checked out but I'm kind of weird like that. Monday I still had a bad headache. I was trying to be "tough" and not think too much of it. On Tuesday I asked one of the Dr.'s at the Chiropractor office I work at to look at my neck. She said it was really swollen on my right side and I showed signs of scoliosis. Even after all that I did an Insanity workout on Tuesday. Wednesday I had a terrible headache and my neck was killing me. Thursday I went back to the Dr. they said I was still in bad shape and they didn't want me turning, lifting, etc and said they didn't want me to work my CNA job the next day and gave me a work notice. Went back on Friday Dr. said not to even do light cleaning around the house and to keep ice on my neck as much as possible so exercising was out of the question. So I only got in 1 exercise day this week. I'm feeling frustrated. When I don't exercise eating healthy doesn't sound as appealing. Also, I've been a little bored lately as well not being able to do much so then I start eating because I'm bored. I still logged everything in MFP. I go back to the Dr. today and I'm hoping to be cleared for exercise. I've been icing my neck and taking aleve faithfully. Our Turkey Trot is on Thursday and I want it to be fun! I'm a little worried about the cold but we will be fine! I really really did not want to weigh in this morning like not at all but I did! I knew if I didn't that that would start a habit of not caring as much again and if I didn't see how I had done during the week that I might just give up.

So I wrote all of that last night obviously not to hopeful about the number on the scale this morning...
I'm down 1.8 lbs. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! Don't know if the scale is broke or what lol but I'm taking it. Honestly, the more I think about it the more it makes sense. Even though it wasn't my best week I'm still eating less calories than I was before, drinking lots of water, and just being aware of what I'm eating. Like when we go out to eat I think twice before ordering. I try and choose the healthier option even though it still might be higher in calories. I'm really happy. I had such a frustrating week without being able to exercise so for that to work out really motivates me. 

Weapons of Mass Reduction Week 3

Monday: T25 Full Body Circuit

Tuesday: 30 min run on the treadmill 2.17 miles
Wednesday: T25 Full Body Circuit
Thursday and Friday no workout :(
Saturday: Insanity Plyo Cardio

We had a weekend challenge in the group and it was to write a "breakup" letter to an unhealthy habit or food item. Here is my breakup letter. Its going to be really hard for me but I think it is in my healths best interest. Sometimes I would have 1-2 monsters/rockstars a day.

When I feel like I'm doing well or have found things that seem to have helped me in my journey I like to share them. In no way am I being paid by the companies to say these things and they are my complete and honest opinion.

Progresso Light Soups- They are only about 80-90 calories for half a can or for the whole can maybe 180. They are super filling and they have lots of fun flavors. My favorites so far are their cheesy chicken enchilada and the italian meatball. 

Sara Lee 45 calorie whole wheat bread- 45 calories for one slice 90 calories for two slices! I love bread but it always took such a chunk out of my calories for the day. I put a little butter on it in the morning or some jam or honey and peanut butter! So yummy!

Yoplait light yogurts: lots of flavors 90 calories each

I love frozen microwavable pre-cooked sausage- so easy and yummy and great to start out my day with some good protein.

So my weigh in this morning I am down 3.2 lbs!!! YAY! Feeling great! This makes my total weight loss so far 7.2lbs!