Happy Fall Y'all!!!!

Bless me bloggers for I have sinned...It's been way too long since my last post...Here is a brief summary of what I've been up to...

We are pretty settled into the new house, it's been over two months now.  We haven't had much time to just sit and enjoy it or do much sight seeing.  We spend M-F commuting back and forth.  Rushing home in the afternoons to begin the madness known as 5th grade homework/studying...Ahhhhh! Then our weekends are spent hanging out with friends on the wank, at the old house doing whatever needs to be done or were out of town with family events.  So, as time passes I am looking forward to getting to shop/hang around the cool new places in our neck of the woods.  

As far as my fitness--Everything has been kinda the same for me lately...

 I've been keeping up with my MWF Cardio/Weights routine, Tues/Thurs Cardio only.  I did switch it up and instead of doing my cardio in between reps of weights. I now hit the Cardio as soon as I get to the gym.  I either run 10 min/1 mile on treadmill (or) I do 15 mins of the stair climber.  Then I do my weight routine. Which is still same...Mon-Chest/Tri, Wed-Back/Bi and Friday-Legs.  As for Tues & Thurs Ive been doing the Spin Class. But this week I think I'll do one day Spin and the other I will run outside, its been getting cooler and Ive been looking forward to getting back to outdoors running!

2-yr Weight Loss Anniversary
 
I did hit my 2-yr weight loss anniversary at the beginning of October!  Kinda seems to me like its been much longer...When I think about it on the day to day and When I look back and see old pics of myself...It seems like that me was gone LONG ago.  

START WEIGHT OCT 2011: 261.2 lbs

October 2012: 174 lbs 

October 2013: 175 lbs 

Total Lost: 86.2

Total lost this year= None (+1 lb) 

I am extremely happy to know now that Ive got this down pat!!!  The first year was EXCITING!!!! The weight was flying off and to loose 87 lbs in that amount of time was very motivational.  This past year hasn't been quite as exciting.  There has been several times I defiantly lost focus, mainly with my diet.  Ive seen the scale +5 & -5 alot this year.   But overall the year in review has shown me, I know what to do to maintain this healthier lifestyle.  I am proud of that!  I am dedicated to the gym and working out.  It is my routine.  I love the way I feel accomplishing it daily. With the exception of a few vacation weeks, I haven't given up on it for 2 years now!!!  I love feeling myself get toner/stronger and I love the confidence I now have bc I believe in myself. 

With that being said....I am real with myself and anyone who asks me...Do I live/eat/breathe/exercise 100% health 24/7=NOPE!  I think that is pretty evident.  You can't fool the scale/mirror lol...But that again is proof to me that if I can do this with my occasional slacker mentality and all of my bad eating habit setbacks...Keeping this up as what I set out for it to be, a lifestyle-change...Will be easier than I once though.  I have no doubts anymore...There is no going back for me, Ive Got This!!!

I wanted to share a few snacks that Ive been loving lately...

 
 
I like the Sunbelt Bakery bars for the busy mornings.  Its easy to grab/go and eat on the run for breakfast in the mornings and I have the Dole banana dippers every now and then for an afternoon snack.

Fall Fun w My Little Fam :D

Hope everyone has a great week ahead!

~Nicole

Not great, but not too bad

This Saturday was my husband and I’s one year wedding anniversary so I just wanted to share some then and now pictures. =)

 Then 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did get some workouts in, but not as much as I would have liked. Here they are.

Workouts :

 

 

Friday: I had NO reason to slack but once I started cleaning the house, there was no stopping! So I didn’t get scheduled working out in, but I got some extra movement in for sure!

Sunday: There was no plank workout but I didn’t do the shredded. Ended up staying the night in Biloxi for the hubs and I’s first anniversary and was WOOPED by the evening so I spent it on the sofa!

Monday: I wasn’t feeling well and was in bed for 8 but was able to get a good night’s rest!

Last Wednesday I weighed in at 167.2 and today I weighed  168.2 this morning. That’s a loss of 0 lbs total since the beginning of the blog! lol. Eh, I feel strong! does that count?!?! =) have a great week!

 

And we're on again...

I'm going to really try this time to do a better job keeping up with the blog.  I have been doing pretty good lately.  Of Course, there's room for improvement, but I don't think that ever really goes away.  There is always room for improvement!

 

Friday

Today was Black & Gold day at work (go Saints!).  I love these days because I get to go to work in comfortable jeans and a Saints t-shirt.  What else does this mean?  FLATS!  My poor feet get a day off as well.  For purposes of tracking my success through this blog, I am going to start fresh with today's weight, and report on it from here on out.  I have been making better food choices.  I'm still staying clear of fast food.  I allow myself a soda every once in a blue moon (maybe once a month, maybe).  I am still drinking plenty of water.  But, I must confess, I'm not going to the gym like I should.  I never get quiet time or alone time, so on nights when Tony & AJ are at football practice and Hannah is at work, the only thing I want to do is sit on my sofa and read and enjoy the silence.  Sometimes I'll break out the books and do homework.  Yep, I'm back in school  I should be set to finish in the Spring.  CAN. NOT. WAIT.  I will get my sanity back.  I'm taking 5 courses this semester and will take another 5 next semester.  GRADUATION!!

 

Saturday

This mornings weigh-in resulted in a loss of 0.2 pounds.  It always excites me to see the scale moving in this direction.  It doesn't matter how small of a move - a move is a move!  Seeing this also helps me to make better choices for the day because I don't want to undo what I have just done.  I don't have a goal weight in mind.  I just want to feel comfortable.  So, I guess we'll just have to wait and see where I end up.  I didn't do too much today.  It rained all day, so I took advantage and did a few homework assignments.  In fact, I spent about 6 hours of my day in bed doing homework.

 

Sunday

This mornings weigh-in resulted in a gain of 0.8 pounds. Ugh.  This must be a result of staying in bed all day and not getting as much movement as I've been used to.  Note to self - do homework at work.  Kidding.  Maybe.  LOL  I get plenty of movement on a workday with taking the stairs in the parking garage as well as in the office.  I made sure not to be as lazy today as I was yesterday.

 

Monday

This mornings weigh-in resulted in a loss of 0.4 pounds.  That's a good way to start off a Monday.  I have been having some slight headaches lately, but I think it's because I don't have a whole lot of caffeine in my diet.  After taking Tylenol, I felt much better.  I am also just coming off of a sinus infection and bronchitis.  I felt awful!  It was hard to breath, everything hurt, by nose wouldn't decide whether it wanted to run or get stopped up.  Nightmare.  I didn't do any homework tonight.  I do have an assignment due tomorrow, but it's more of a wing it kind of assignment.  I'm sure it'll be fine if I just do it tomorrow at lunch.  Speaking of lunch, I had lunch with Shannon today (we went to Rouses - love it!).  I bought a little thing of finger sandwiches.  I think there were five pieces - three were on white, two were on wheat.  It was really good.  For dinner, I made pork chops, homemade mashed potatoes, and green beans.  I LOVE green beans.

 

Tuesday

This mornings weigh-in resulted in a loss of 0.8 pounds.  WOOHOO!!  It must have been the walk to and from Rouses - maybe I should do that more often.  LOL  For breakfast, I have been having these weight-loss shakes (Equate brand - Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry) - BUT, before you go with the "EEEWWWW" factor, let me just tell you - I LOVE them!  They taste just like flavored milk. Now, if you don't like milk, you probably wouldn't like these shakes.  They keep me from feeling hungry.  They don't have an after taste.  I count down at the office until 9:00 a.m. so I can go get one.  Oh, and they are only $4.98 for a six pack.  For lunch, I had a left over pork chop and green beans.  Dinner was a bowl of Special K's Fruit & Yogurt cereal.  That, too, was really good.  It makes me feel like I'm actually getting a snack. Confession - I had two scoops of Oreo ice cream.  I don't even know why.  I'm not that big on Oreos or ice cream.  I didn't even finish it.  I was disappointed in myself for getting it, and then it wasn't even good.  Next time I think I want a snack, I'll just eat a small bowl of cereal.

 

Wednesday

This mornings weigh-in resulted in a loss of 0.4 pounds.  F-U Oreo ice cream, F-U!  Victory is mine!  Today was a really busy day.  I didn't even have time for lunch.  I was going back and fourth between a hearing (in the office - unusual) and helping with a Writ.  NIGHTMARE.  But, I got it all done.  I did manage to work in a protein bar.  Dinner was a bowl of cereal.  NO SNACK.  NO OREO ICE CREAM!

 

Thursday

This mornings weigh-in resulted in a loss of 0.2 pounds.  Since the day is just beginning, there isn't much to report on.  I will be making a quick trip to Rouses to pick up lunch.  I have class tonight, so I won't get home until sometime after 8:45, so I'll probably just have another bowl of cereal for dinner.

 

All in all, I lost 1.2 pounds in the last week.  I'm pretty excited about it.  Let's see what next week brings...

Courtney 

Soooo, about that exercise I was supposed to do….

Last week didn’t quite pan out like I had planned. First of all, I actually FORGOT about the plank challenge. Second, life will keep you on your toes and sometimes not let you rest let alone work out!!!

This is how my week ended up:

Workouts (HA!):

Wednesday: was just drained. Kids went to bed late, got up late, got to work late, late, late!!!!!!!!! Geez

Thursday: Son had a football game and I managed my time VERY bad

Friday: I thought I had an hour from when I got off of work until I had my kido’s but that worked out all wrong!

Saturday: ate and waterslided until I dropped!

Sunday: was still exhausted and sore from Saturday

Monday: had lunch plans but they got canceled and I didn’t have work out cloths.

Tuesday: had lunch with a friend from out of town and football game at 545pm.

As you can see, no workouts this week and my food choices were BAD!!!! So, going to try again this week! That’s all I can do! Going to try this routine. =)

 



One Hot Minute

83 days to be exact since I last posted and here I am, still weighing in at 168.2 lbs as of today which is .4 lbs less than when the blog was started on 10/4/2012. In retrospect, this is very disappointing. I can see now where my main problem lies. I’m content.  I’m content with my personal life, I’m content with my job, and I’m apparently content with my weight seeing how I’ve made no real progress!

This has got to end. I am over weight, out of breath, and spreading in the hips! So yesterday (9/17/2013) I tied my shoes and started C25K again and today I’m going to start a 4 week plank challenge. I will keep an updated list on how this round of C25K compares to the last time.

Workouts:

Tuesday -

C25K 1.9 Miles/Average Pace 15:47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On another note, while the hubs and I don’t juice everyday like we should, we do make it a point to have a few juices a week. With my oldest son playing football, our evenings are super pressed for time so I haven’t been putting juicing as a priority…. after football that is!

 

 

Anyhow, here’s to getting back on the wagon!

So, Its been a while....

Things are starting to settle down in my neck of the woods...Which by the way is now on the North Shore!!! :)

<~Bell & I: Afternoon playing @ the lake front

We moved in  last week.  We spent the weekend unpacking and got everything set up that we need to function.  Still some boxes to go through but mainly just boxes of pictures, bags of blankets/sheets, mics crap.  The fun part of decorating still needs to happen but I will probably take my time with that and just go room by room. I want it all done NOW but its such an investment and I don't want to waste money on cheap stuff. So it can wait, for now.

Everyday/night I spend in the house, I love it more and more.  Before moving in..someone asked "This is your final move right" (Mind you, This is only my 2nd house btw) and my response was "No. This isn't my "dream" house but its on the NS and in a great school district and that was the main goal."  Well, I was wrong!  I love this house!!!  I thought, just looking at empty space, there wouldn't be enough storage for us.  Come to find out... (defiantly due to all the purging)  We are all moved in and unpacked and the attic, downstairs closet, and a few kitchen cabinets are still EMPTY.  Everyone closets have lots of room left, even with our stuff in it.  So I was very happy and surprised.  There is a shed/barn thing in the back yard but there is no garage, but we still have lots of room in the shed area.  I wanted "land" ...and we are in a culdesac that backs woods but its not an acre of open land, like I was visioning. That being said, I love sitting out on the patio or under the front porch and watching the birds and squirrels in the yard.  I will soon be investing in a front porch swing, a bird bath and some feeders So we can watch more animals play. 

CJ is adjusting to a new school.  He has made a few friends. He has said over and over how much he loves our new house.  He also LOVES riding the bus and thinks its the coolest thing ever. I think he's just enjoying having some independence.  He seems to be more relaxed with school work. Although we are only in the 2nd week of school, we haven't had any crazy amounts of homework (YET). Therefore I am more relaxed...lol

With all that happening I haven't been blogging....Also bc although I've still been going to the gym for lunch. My diet has been sucking big time. I had our house packed including pots/pans/dishes/etc. So for the last month (at least)  we have been eating nothing but fast food/restaurants every night, McDs or donuts for breakfast...everything and anything BAD!  By some miracle and the grace of GOD..I have still been maintaining! Guess its all the packing/moving boxes/unpacking...Who Knows...But I'll take it! Need to get back on trct soon though...holidays are right around the corner!! :/

Hope everyone has a great week ahead!
~Nicole

Those 60 days sure went by fast!

It's been a week...this past weekend our dishwasher broke so we ran over to Sears to get a new one then my husband informs me yesterday that he needs a new computer now that school is starting so he can work on lesson plans. Our computer died last month but I just kept putting it off (guess I was waiting for the dishwasher to break so we could replace everything at once lol). Luckily Best Buy has 18 months interest free financing so we were able to get a nice computer for $40 a month. Now that we're broke we are happy to report nothing else in the house is!!

Monday was day 60 of our juice fast. I was down to 232.00 on Tuesday morning and then we started incorporating food again. We expected the scale to go up, which it did. This morning I was at 237. It has slowly started going back down again now that our body is adjusting to food (all healthy). We have started walking an hour and half at night so make up for our food consumption. We feel wonderful.

As for the plank challenge...that was an epic FAIL for me. The longest plank I am able to do is 1 minute and 20 seconds. That is TOUGH!! I will work on that challenge again in August because I can only get better but it's going to take me a long time to get to a 5 minute plank. Wish me luck, I need it!

Yesterday I had my follow up visit with Dr. Egan from the blood work drawn two weeks ago. All of my cholesterol, triglycerides, good fats, bad fats, blood pressure you name it was PERFECT! I was so excited! She then got the last page of my blood word where we discuss my hormone levels and they are AWFUL! I have so many hormone deficiencies that I've never been aware of, which causes a lot of my tiredness, weight gain, moodiness, you name it. She called in a prescription for me and put me on many different vitamins to correct everything. In a few months I should be getting much better...I'm looking forward to that.

It's Saturday and I'm at work, I actually started this post yesterday and then we got busy here at work and I forgot to go back to it. It's a nasty, rainy day today so I'm sure it will be a slow one...

Have a great weekend!!