Monday, March 25, 2013

INSANITY! Week 1 Done!

I just completed my first week of the Insanity program! I'm surprised, but thrilled that I made it through a whole week! Now, obviously, when I say I've made it through I mean that I've completed the workouts...but I do not mean that I was able to complete them at the level of those in the video. I've had to take MANY more breaks and there are some "moves" that I just can't do yet...like a real push-up. The point is that I'm giving it 100% of my effort...that's all I can do! I weighed in at 224 lbs. when I started Insanity (the intro) and I now weigh 219 lbs. I was hoping for more drastic numbers but I'm not surprised because me diet this week has been abysmal! I need to get back on track ASAP! Monday is always a favorite day to start (or restart) things so I'll try to get back on my healthier eating track tomorrow.

I have not been on another run yet. My knees and ankles have been very sore and achy from all of the jumping and squats. I think it will probably be a couple more weeks before I'll be able to add running to my workout routine again.

I had a very exhausting weekend and am very tired so unfortunately this will be it for my post...but I'll update again soon.

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone has an awesome week...me included! ;)

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Updates Galore!

I turned 30 on March 3rd. Yikes! I can't believe I'm THIRTY!!! Oh well, nothing I can do about it. "Age is just a number baby", right? ; )

My birthday threw me way off track diet wise. David took me to Joe's Crab Shack! I had never been there and ALWAYS wanted to go. I had two Bahama Mama's and was feeling pretty good! lol I'm such a light weight with alcohol. I hardly ever drink and it was the first time I've ever had a Bahama Mama. They are pretty good, I have to say. Nice to have something besides a Fuzzy Navel to order at a party. : )

Not a huge fan of the bib...but I've gotten several compliments on this picture. lol Even my husband loves it.

The day before my birthday David and I went to his friends wedding. Remember how I told you I was trying to figure out a fashionable outfit to wear? Well, here's what I finally came up with. Shopping and putting a whole outfit together was stressful for me! lol I don't know how people do it for everything they wear, everyday!

Coral became my POPPING third color! : )
Love, love, love the ring! David had bought me a gift certificate for a pedicure for Valentine's Day so I got my nails done too. I was matching from head to toe! ; )
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The following weekend my girlfriends and I had our last Twilight Party. I had a dozen red velvet cupcakes from Whole Foods made! If you read Katie's blog, Runs for Cookies, then you know all about Whole Foods...its heaven...and OH MY GOD!!!! They are the most amazing cupcakes I have EVER had!!! Not so good for weight loss...so only in moderation. ; )

Don't they look amazing? They are huge cupcakes too. *Drool*
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On Saturday David threw me a not so surprise birthday party. Some of my friends and family that I don't get to see too often were there. I was surprised to see some of my cousins and one of my aunt's there. I kind of teared up when I saw them! They live pretty far away so its awesome that they made the trek for me! Once I steal some pictures from someone I'll be sure to post. My sister had some huge black and white posters made up from some pictures I had on my Facebook. The largest one was of me on or around my first birthday. She had the awesome idea to have my guests sign it! I think it turned out really cool.

Wasn't I a cutie? Actually, you can't really see my face...too bright...and I look like a little boy. lol
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David and I bought the INSANITY workout program!!!! David is hoping to GAIN weight and I...obviously...am hoping to LOSE it. I tell him all of the time that we are like the nursery rhyme about the man who could eat no fat and his wife who could eat no lean or something like that. Anyways...I've completed my fourth day of the Insanity INTRO week workout!!! Yes, they have to introduce you to a little pain and sweat before the REAL pain and sweat starts! YIKES! It is REALLY hard, but I'm already finding that I'm able to do just a little bit more each day...and I got past the initial soreness that I was SUPER worried about before I started. I was VERY sore for the first three days. Day two being the worst. I was fine if I was standing...but when I'd try to sit down...OOUUCH!

I'm scheduled to start day one of the actual Insanity program on the 20th...which is next Wednesday. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress.

I haven't ran at all since the last run I told you guys about. As soon as I'm "comfortable" with doing these workouts everyday I'll start running again. I just don't want to injure myself trying to do so much at once. Going from barely or no exercise to an intense interval workout 6 days a week AND running is A LOT!

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I've been doing pretty good with my food since starting Insanity. They give you a book with meal plans and its the first time I don't feel like I would never eat any of the stuff! I'm actually liking everything I've made and its mostly stuff that I would already choose to eat (when I would choose to eat something healthy) so its working out well. I'm just struggling with trying to figure out where my daily calorie goal should be. In the Fitness Challenge through David's work the coach has me at a target of 1100 cal/day...which isn't happening! Insanity recommends 2500 cal/day based on the calculations...but I just think that's too much! I'm not sure what I should do. For now I'm back down to a target of 1500 cal/day...but I use My Fitness Pal and when you add exercise that you've done it gives you extra calories for the day...so really I guess my target with workouts is more like 1800 cal/day. We'll see how that works for awhile.

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I signed up for my first 5k race of 2013! Its at a county park that we use to live right by on April 27th. Hopefully I'll be ready!

Well, I think that's all of the updates I have for now. I'll try to get some posts up more regularly. I really liked it when I was posting more.

I hope everyone has been enjoying their weekend and that you all have a wonderful Sunday! God Bless!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

31 X 31

I almost completed half of my 30 X 30 list...which I'm both happy and upset about, but all I can do is strive to do better this time around with my 31 X 31 list. : )

If you want, you can take a look at my 30 X 30 list.

1.   Lose 88 lbs. (Starting at 223 lbs.)
2.   Pay off a credit card.
3.   Close a credit card.
4.   Read 20 books in their entirety.
     1. Forks Over Knives Edited by Gene Stone
     2. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson
     3.  The Walking Dead: Book 7 by Robert Kirkman
     4.  The Walking Dead: Book 8 by Robert Kirkman
     5.  The Plan by Lyn-Genet Recitas
5.   See a waterfall I've seen Niagara Falls and Tahquamenon Falls, but I'd love to see more!
6.   Go to or host a wine tasting. Not sure if I'll ever like a red wine after the disgusting ones my sister and I tried.
7.   Go to a beer festival. I'm not really a beer drinker, but I haven't tried many either.
8.   Go to Cedar Point and be able to ride any of the coasters! The last time I went was in 2010 and I had already gained back some of the 40 lbs. I lost. I almost couldn't buckle the seat belt on my favorite coaster, the millennium force, and I don't mean it was just a little tough. I mean I repeatedly struggled with it.
9.   GET MORE ORGANIZED!!!
10.  Log 200 running miles.
11.  Do some kind of race every month.
12.  Study the Bible.
13.  Run an 8k. 
14.  Run a 10k.
15.  Run the 10 mile Crim!
16.  Visit with family more.
17.  Take the kids on a trip.
18.  Stick to a budget.
19.  Complete 2 rounds of the Insanity workout program.
20.  Pick a half marathon to do in 2014!
21.  Visit a state I've never been to.
22.  Wear a bathing suit...in PUBLIC! Yikes!
23.  Take the boys roller skating.
24.  Take a dance class.
25.  Get a massage. Sounds trivial and simple, right? I've only had two in my life...and one hurt! lol
26.  Go on 12 kid-free dates with David. 1
27.  Perform 12 random acts of kindness. 1
28.  Create an Etsy Shop of my own.
29.  Talk to friends I've lost touch with.
30.  Put Jacob in a dance class. He LOVES to dance, and he has good rhythm.
31.  Do some scrapbooking! I have so many pictures that need to be put into albums. They don't even all have to be in a 'scrapbook' just in some kind of album!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Nothing New...really

I'm still sick...or I should say sick again! I had a bad cough for a little over a week and was feeling almost completely better for a day and then last night I suddenly started getting really congested. I can barely breathe out of my nose...snot is pouring out...my eyes are constantly watering, and there is so much pressure in my head I wish I could pop it!

So needless to say I have not been able to get back to my exercising yet. I'm getting very frustrated with my health and my lack of weight loss. I know that a lot of things are within my control so the only person I can blame for those things is myself...but I can't stop myself from getting sick. I have been sick almost constantly since winter started...really my whole family has been. I'm sure it has a lot to do with Jacob now being in all day kindergarten and Nathan going to preschool...but man...can't we catch a break??? I'm thinking that I might be getting so sick more often is because of the medication I am on for my MS. Part of its whole purpose is to weaken the immune system so that my body won't attack itself which is essentially what MS is all about...your immune system attacking yourself.

I turn thirty next Sunday, March 3rd. I have so many mixed emotions about it. I'm pissed at myself because since I've been overweight I've always said to myself that I KNEW I would be back to a "normal" weight by the time I was thirty. Yet here I am a week shy of my thirtieth birthday and still 222 lbs.!!! I'm trying to look on the bright side and am focusing my energies on looking (and hopefully feeling) my best for my birthday. I am horrible with fashion and while I can appreciate someone's well put together outfit I've never been able to do it myself. Whether it be because I don't feel I should waste my time because I'm so overweight or more I portably that I just don't have the money to put together outfits. I've been on Pinterest looking up plus size outfits and have really been having fun looking at everything. I'm hoping to go shopping some day this week to pick out an outfit that can pull double duty. David and I are going to a wedding on the 2nd...so I need an outfit I can wear to the wedding but then also wear it for whatever we do for my birthday. I know David is cooking something up...because I've basically told him over the last five years at least that he was required to throw me a surprise birthday party for my thirtieth. I guess it's not truly a surprise because I know he's planning something but oh well. :)
I'll be sure to post a picture of whatever outfit I come up with. If I can't be skinny for my birthday I might as well be a put together chunky girl.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

This is REALLY getting old!!!

I am sick...yet again!!! Is this happening to any other family??? We keep getting sick and spreading it around to each family member! I have not run since that 'first' workout because I am wheezing, hacking, and coughing. I can't breathe out of my nose and taking deep breaths makes me cough...so exertion isn't really an option right now. I really hope it goes away soon! I really hate that I can't seem to get back on track!

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Last night was the first day of the 90 day fitness challenge through David's work. Quite a bit of good information...much of which I've learned before...but some new insights. They were also peddling their products; supplements, protein shakes, and teas. Even if I wanted to get into all of that stuff, David and I just don't have the money. That stuff was expensive...even with the 'generous' 20% discount we are getting thanks to David's company. We were given some samples of a few of their products and I am trying them but I'm pretty skeptical. I don't doubt that some people benefit from them...but I often wonder if its really the products themselves or the overall lifestyle changes that a person normally goes through when they start taking these products. I guess we'll see.

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I watched the documentary Forks Over Knives the other night and while I've never really considered being a vegetarian it really made me think about my eating habits and those of my family. I borrowed the book of the same name from the library and plan to see what it all entails in more detail. I definitely recommend watching the documentary though. Its in the "instant" movies on Netflix.

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Since I've been sick and resting I finally made a new winter hat for Nathan. He has been asking for a Lightning McQueen hat. I hadn't been able to find a pattern that I thought looked 'good' enough...so I ended up improvising my own pattern from bits and pieces of different hat patterns and just my own creation. I think it turned out pretty good.


I hope everyone has a good Wednesday! : )

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

New Year, New Start

...or at least I hope so. I know I am not unlike many other people out there who try to lose weight and then fall off the wagon and I'm not going to claim to be. I can look back at my old posts and see how I gradually started to go downhill. I'm sure it was a combination of several things but my mood slowly disintegrated over the past few months. It actually makes me sad to see how happy I was and how good I was doing just to see it all go downhill so quickly. I seemed to hit rock bottom just about two weeks ago. I was severely depressed. More so then I have ever been in my life and for no one apparent reason. It was more a combination of several things with one final (insignificant) thing that just caused me to completely crumble.

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I'm so upset with myself. I gained back 10 pounds over the holidays and completely stopped running...but I am NOT going to dwell on these things. I feel like my mood is slowly improving and I am determined to move forward from here. I have put a few things in place that should help me to continue on the road back to feeling better all around.

My husband and I are starting a 90 day fitness challenge through his work tomorrow and I restarted the Couch 2 5K program tonight...on the dreaded treadmill...YUCK! I can't wait till the weather gets better so I can hit the road again. I also signed up for round 2 of Run With Jess's Dietbet challenge and am hoping to win some money for my weight loss efforts there.

Another way to help me get back my running back into full swing is that I signed up to return for the Crim Training Program this year! You may remember that I won a scholarship to participate last year and I had a ton of fun training to walk the 10 mile event. This year I am biting the bullet and signing up to train to run the 5k or 8k course...but I registered for the 10 mile RUN event!!! I don't know that I'll be ready to run 10 miles by August but I'd rather sign up for the longer distance so that I can decide whether or not to continue on past the 8k course. I plan to train with the group but to also train on my own for the 10 mile run...much like I did last year when I trained to walk the 10 mile event but I did the C25K program on my own.

My eating habits are horrendous and I just can't seem to get myself to get back on track. I don't understand why its so hard and why I just can't seem to just say 'No Erin, you don't need to eat that!' Its so maddening! I'm just going to try and make small changes a little at a time.

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I've been making crocheted hats fairly steadily since I last posted. Mostly the owl hats, but I've had a few others. This shark hat was a special request. Pretty different, but cute.


We started going to a new church that is really close to our house. The church that I have been a member of since I was a very little girl is pretty far away and unfortunately doesn't have a children's program. (Well, they didn't for years, but we attended service at Christmas and were told they were going to be offering children's Sunday school again) I think our family will be really happy here at this new church. We've only attended a few times but its great to actually look forward to church instead of feeling like its an obligation.

So that's a very abbreviated take on what's been going on with me. I would go into more detail...but I've been wanting to post because it has been WAY too long since I last posted. I just needed to get that first post up. I can always go into more detail about these things in upcoming posts...after all, it is MY blog. : )