Got to see my buddies!

     Had a lot of fun today at the Galleria with my friends and daughter.  With life being so busy we don’t get to see each other as much as we used to when we worked together.  Back then we saw each other at least 3 times a week and I miss that but glad we are still great friends.  Lots has changed since that pic was taken a few years ago, we’ve all grown so much but in a good way.  Robert is the reason I started this last journey to weight loss, which has blossomed into a fitness & health journey that I plan to stay on the rest ofmy life.  Between the two of us we’ve lost over 110 lbs or as Robert put it a 10 year old child lol and that has been since late August 2011, I’m really proud of the both of us.  We have a few more goals to accomplish and we are aiming to achieve them by his birthday this May and I know we can do it!

     Today was day one of Les Mills Pump and I LOVED it!  Can’t wait for the cardio workout tomorrow, hoping it will kick my butt as good as the Pump one, and there’s no doubt it will live up to it’s name.  I realized why I enjoy Beachbody workouts so much….. they have a beginning and an end, a certain time to measure your goals and achieve them and for me that makes me push even harder cause I know there is a fantastic reward at the end.  Not only have I changed my body and gotten stronger but learned how to be proud of myself and that means so much to me.  It’s a good feeling finishing a workout every day that I’ve committed to, the reward is in the way I feel performing my daily activities that used to cause me some pain.  I hated leaning over and loading a dishwasher, now it doesn’t bother me, nor does getting clothes from washer/dryer or walking up and down the basement steps.  So life is generally easier than it was, I feel stronger and look better so this is a win win situation.

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend & EXERCISE  ( :

My Les Mills Pump just arrived!!!

     It’s here it’s here and I’m about to go rip open the boxes, put everything together, read all the material and preview the dvd’s.  After all that I’m creating a hybrid calendar for my two programs I’m doing, it’s actually fun to make your own rotation calendar and I’m pumped to do it.  After taking a couple days off due to the crud floating around this house I’m MORE than ready to start exercising hard again.  I’ve spent the majority of the last few days between bed & doing laundry because we messed up all the towels in this house, however I did manage to push my weak body to do my last CLX workout yesterday, wasn’t my best one but I did it.  Now I know if I can finish one program then surely I can finish another, so wish me luck cause I’m on my way.  My goal is to lean my body out, lose about 17 lbs and lower my body fat from 23% to 19%,  and maybe lose another pants size, but I’ll take what I can get.  Just moving my body everyday has given me much more strength and energy throughout my days, except of course when faced with the nasty flu.

     I decided to start back cooking again because it really makes a difference on how I feel so tonight is a healthy version of chicken parmesan with caesar salad and bread ( I know the breads bad but the family likes it and I have to use baby steps with them).  The nice thing about home cooked meals is there’s no added salt, msg or any other crap I don’t want to put in my body.  Hopefully eating a decent meal will give me a little more strength.  The weather here is supposed to get a little nasty, it’s pretty rainy and cold right now and supposed to be turning into snow on the day my daughter moves in her new place, of course!  So move in day is going to be fun for all… maybe I’ll volunteer to babysit and stay home with my granddaughter in the nice warm house.  Who knows maybe we’ll even start a fire.  I’m excited for a couple reasons, not only do I get my house back to myself, but my new furniture is gonna look fantastic.  I even went to Garden Ridge and bought a beautiful brushed brass huge mirror and today I went and ordered my dinette.  Now if I could just get my hubby to paint with me, but since this is the busiest time of the year for him I’m thinking that’s probably not going to happen.  Oh well I can wait, no hurries over here.  Plus I’ve decided to keep the house for a while so we might as well fix it up how we want it since I plan on staying in it for the next 5 years at least, depending on how attached my grandbaby gets to it.

Have a Fantastic Friday & EXERCISE  ( :

Today the scale & I are friends!

     Ok so my scale doesn’t say 125, but it has finally moved some and that’s just fine with me!  Since I’ve been sick the last couple days it’s been hard to workout and eat, plus anything I put in my body is passing right through so not sure if that’s just water weight but I’m just gonna pretend for now the scale is my friend today!  I only have 17 more pounds to lose to hit my goal weight and I’m gonna do it!  There’s no doubt in my mind that I will achieve not only the body I want but the life as well.  Plus with summer coming up I ordered 2 Victoria Secret bathing suits, woot woot and I want to look smoking hot in them because I plan on doing a LOT of summer activities this year, no more sitting around wishing to do them, I’m going on a mission to do them all this summer.  My kids are ready to explore with me and try new things, on the list is: zip lining, laser tag, paint ball, jet ski & water ski and we are gonna have too much fun doing them all.  I love having my kids at an age I can enjoy all life has to offer, plus they will both be over 18 so for any activities (skydiving) you need to be an adult for, they can participate in, sweet!

Ok I know everyone’s tired of hearing about my workouts but….. today is the LAST day of ChaLEAN Extreme, I did it!!! I finished a 12 week committed workout program and am VERY happy with the results.  The funny thing with CLX is I lost lots of inches but not that much weight, only about 10 lbs, but it has completely reshaped my body.  Now the next workout program I’m doing is the Les Mills Pump which is supposed to be targeted more towards weight loss and getting you lean, so we shall see.  I know it’s getting harder to lose weight as I get closer and closer to goal, and that’s ok.  So far in the last year I’ve lost 48 lbs, that’s a lot of pounds and I’m super proud of myself.  I’ve also managed to become a non smoker and healthier person in that time, who could ask for more?

I’ve been slacking really bad in the cooking department since my mom left and that’s not good, I was really enjoying the benefits of cooking at home and need to get back into the habit of doing that again.  Right now my daughter, granddaughter and boyfriend are staying downstairs just till Monday and then they are moving into their new apartment, then my house will be back to normal.  I kind of have ocd so I like the place neat and tidy, maybe then I can start cooking a little more.  Monday is going to be a busy day though helping her get all moved in, plus she’s taking my kitchen table and living room furniture and our new sectional won’t be delivered till Tuesday, and not sure if my hubby ordered the kitchen table yet.  We decided on a counter high table that’s really cute and I can’t wait to finally have new stuff because I plan on redoing my kitchen & living room in creams & rusts.  Took a trip to Garden Ridge yesterday and purchased a huge mirror to go on the wall to open up the living room some, it’s in a brushed metal and matches perfectly with the color scheme I’m doing in there, it’s all gonna be so pretty when I’m done.

Have a terrific Thursday & EXERCISE  ( :

Weekly Fitbit stats

My avg. daily fitbit #fitstats for last week: 11,575 steps and 5 miles traveled. http://www.fitbit.com/user/22PBQ9

The whole house was sick!

     Well my hubby, daughter and I all got a stomach flu yesterday and my baby girl wound up in the ER with an iv in her neck.  That’s the power of water in our bodies, she has puked and pooped so much she was dehydrated and her veins collapsed to where they had to use an ultrasound machine to see them, so they went in through her neck.  The moral of the story? Drink lots of water!  Anyways we are all feeling a bit better today, my poor hubby had to work because they couldn’t find another driver, and he was up all night sick, I feel so bad for him right now.  I guess I’m taking the day off of exercise because I still feel pretty crappy and then tomorrow is my last day doing ChaLEAN Extreme and then I’ll have finished my first Beachbody program from start to finish and ready for the next.   I got the first box of three I think of my Les Mills Pump Deluxe order, looking forward to getting it put together and previewing some of the workouts which I’ll be starting on Sunday, woohoo I’m so excited.

Have a happy hump day & EXERCISE  ( :

My daugter got her car!

     Yea my oldest daughter finally got a car I feel comfortable with my granddaughter in.  We were smart and bought an extended warranty and good thing because don’t you know it started sputtering this afternoon, ugh!!!  They let us drop it off and will have the mechanic look at it in the morning, so hopefully nothing big.  After it sputtered we had her start it again and it purred like a kitten, so I’m all types of confused.  Hopefully it will be back in her possession in a couple days at most.

     The hubby and I went shopping for a new sectional this afternoon because we gave my daughter the one we have now to put in her new apartment, so we had to shop for a replacement   We found a beautiful sectional with ottoman at Macy’s of all places and are having it delivered next week.  Now we only have to get our new dinette and we’ll be finished shopping for a little longer, around the time my youngest moves out and I’m figuring on about a year till that happens, then we have to refurnish the basement.  I’m thinking leave it empty so I have more space to work out, sweet!

     Super excited to receive my next workout program and looking forward to the results it will bring.  I’m hoping for some weight loss this time around, not that I’m not shrinking it would just be nice to see the scale move a little bit.  But everyday I’m getting stronger and stronger and it’s a fantastic feeling.

Have a Terrific Tuesday & EXERCISE  ( :

Oooh I ate too much….

     My belly hurts, whew did we eat too much last night and my body’s angry at me today!  Actually I wasn’t too bad till it came to the cookie cake, sweets are my weakness, ugh I wish I was stronger against them.  My poor angel baby was sick all day yesterday, her little belly hurt too and we had to do lots of laundry to keep up with her   not sure what was wrong as she didn’t have a fever or act sick at all.  Actually later on in the day she did get a little crabby, but she was probably hungry from not keeping anything down.  The pic I have on my blog today is a face Maira makes, I think she looks like a little monkey lol.  She forms her mouth in an “o” and then kinda grunts a little, too darn cute, but then again everything she does is.  Today’s the day to get my daughter her car, she’s ready to race out the door bless her heart and she is very antsy to move into her new place.  I remember my first apartment and shopping for decorations, furnishings, etc and how much fun it was.  It’s nice when things are going in the right direction all around your life.  I’m thinking doing the 30 day “Push” challenge from Chalene Johnson’s new book “Push” really helps me put my goals and dreams in perspective by writing them down.  I re-write them every Wednesday and try to work on them one at a time, having them in words I can actually see in black and white gives them a little more importance, kind of like a to do list, which I couldn’t live without mine.

     Waiting patiently for my Les Mills Pump to come in so I can make my hybrid schedule up and follow that for 60 days, woohoo I’m so excited.  What I’m hoping is going to happen is this:  I fall in love with the program and get in good enough shape to feel comfortable enough to join 24 Hour Fitness and start doing the group classes with other fitness enthusiasts.  My goal is to join a gym and meet new friends that enjoy physical activities and maybe have even done a few and can show me the ropes.  I’m happily married and not looking for anything other than new friends, preferable female so my hubby isn’t uncomfortable with me going rock climbing or zip lining.  I would love to go do these things with him but he is very reluctant to do anything new, fun or exciting, he likes to come home from work and veg out on the couch watching t.v. and I’m past that in my life.  No longer are the days I sit around feeling sorry for myself, time to take responsibility for myself, my body, my life, my health  and my mental attitude and all those have really increased the last few months.  Still in a state of disbelief from becoming a non smoker two months ago, who would have thought?  It’s fantastic and the best decision I’ve made in a long time, unfortunately for me I still crave them, but in time I’m sure that will completely go away so for now I will just resist the temptation and remind myself why I’m making all these changes, it’s to become a healthy, active, happy person and I’m so ready to LIVE!!!!!

Have a Fantastic Monday & EXERCISE  ( :

Superbowl get together tonight.

     Well we are eating some fattening food tonight, not sure I even want to eat a burger.  They are the pre-made bacon cheeseburger angus ones, so really really greasy, but I do cook them in the NuWave oven and it makes it the lowest calorie you possibly can.  On top of that there will be deviled eggs, potato salad & wings with ranch, oh and a cookie cake wow huh?  My belly is gonna be sick tonight good thing I have alka-seltzer.

      Everyone’s excited around the house these last few days because my oldest daughter is finally getting her own apartment with her daughter and boyfriend.  Miss Maira will have her own room and her own space and I think that’s just what she needs as she is almost 1.  We’re also picking up her car tomorrow morning, that’s what she invested her tax return on and then the hubby and I helped a bit also.  It will be nice knowing the baby has a safe car to be riding around in, we found a Taurus Sedan which is plenty roomy for the entire family

     Life is good, miss my mom & dad tons but other than that everything is heading in the right direction.  This is my last week of ChaLEAN Extreme, actually my last day is Thursday, then Friday & Saturday are rest days and Sunday begins a new 60 day challenge for me.  This time I will be working out to Les Mills Pump/Brazil Butt Lift hybrid and I can’t wait to see the results.

Have a fantastic Sunday & EXERCISE  ( :

All 3 of us out for the night…..

     I actually got to go out with both my daughters for the first time and it was really nice, can’t wait to take them to Vegas only 3 more years.  I wasn’t a spring chicken when I had my girls, 26 isn’t a teeny bopper, so it’s nice to still be somewhat young enough to go out and enjoy a bar or casino with them.

     Okay we have no idea who the guy in back is, lol but ok.  Life is so much easier to enjoy a half a person smaller, not only do I feel better in my own skin, but I am stronger and have more energy.  I plan on enjoying many many many more active years with my girls and grand daughter, it’s been nice going ice skating, and hopefully this summer doing some water skiing.

     Ok I’ve been horribly lazy these last few days with my eating, blogging, cooking, etc.  The only thing I’ve managed to maintain is my workouts, which is great, but I feel like I haven’t been giving my healthy lifestyle all that I can these last few days and I’m ready to get back on track cause I definitely feel a difference in my mind and body.  Actually I didn’t even juice today, boo…. but tomorrow is a new day and I’m ready to get back on track with a vengeance.  My new workout Les Mills Pump should be here next week and I’m super excited, especially because I made a 12 week commitment to a workout program and actually gonna finish it, I’m in the final stretch. It feels so good and I’m actually really proud of myself for not only finishing a commitment I made to myself but also staying a non smoker for 2 months now.  It feels really good being able to be so proud of myself for the first time in a long time, I’m living a totally different life than I was a few months back, who would have thunk it?

     Having some major issues in our life right now with the business and it’s really stressful, although I’m trying to stay stress free it still upsets me somewhat.  I’ve tried to push that aside for all the good going on like my oldest daughter is moving in her first apartment on the 13th of this month and we are getting her a nice car on Monday, so little miss Maira will have her very own room with her mommy in their own place like big girls.  So exciting times and sad times, I’d much rather focus my energy on the good going on, but realize I have to acknowledge the other.  Everything’s going to be ok, I’m just going to keep telling myself that, it has to be.

Have a fantastic weekend & EXERCISE  ( :

Weekly Fitbit stats

My avg. daily fitbit #fitstats for last week: 15,927 steps and 7 miles traveled. http://www.fitbit.com/user/22PBQ9