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

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

Enjoying Life...

 

Hi Guys!! I didn't post last week, 7/9. I had off work on Tuesday and had to go to the scheduled home inspection of the new house. I didn't want to have to post from home, due to the fact that the afternoons last week were filled with going room by room organizing/packing/throwing away and gathering stuff to sell.

We decided while cleaning up over the weekend to throw a "garage sale" before just throwing away everything in the house we didn't need anymore. I just refuse to pack un-used crap to the new house!! Once we got started I loved the feeling of the house being so cleaned and organized that I started to pitch more and more and more, felt great! 

With the help and realization of my husband and great friends...I have come to realize I am in fact a "HOARDER".  This became apparent as I emptied my house on to my front lawn for the garage sale and the stuff covered every available sq inch.  Not only did we have a great time just sitting around talking, laughing, bbq'n and having a great time w awesome friends BUT We did great on the sale and we made right at $2k!!!! 

YES, ON STUFF WE TOTALLY NEEDED TO JUST GET RID OF ANYWAY!!! 

On Sunday, we emptied everything back on on the lawn and I began going through more cabinets, purging even more.  We decided then, we defiantly have to do this another weekend.  So we decided to hold on to whatever didn't sell, we will continue to purge over the next 2 weeks and we will have another garage sale at the end of July.  Whatever doesn't sell at that point will be donated or gotten rid of some how.  Chad may just jump off a cliff if I try to push that back a second longer..lol

With all that's been going on, I haven't been a total slacker on the workouts although its not as many as I'd like.

Workouts from the last 2 wks:
7/1 Mon:None
7/2 Tues: Gym-> Spin Class+ Chest & Tri
7/3 Wed: Gym-> Bk & Bi's

7/4 Thurs: Gym-> Spin Class

7/5 Fri: Gym->Ran .5 +Leg Day

*Increased weight on 2 "birthing machines" 100# (from 80#)=OUCH! 

7/6 Sat & 7/7 Sun:None

7/8 Mon: Gym->Chest & Tri

7/9 Tues: None-Hm Inspections

7/10 Wed: Gym-> Bk & Bi

7/11 Thurs: Gym-> Spin Class + Walk/Jog/Bike w Bell

7/12 Fri: None

7/13 Sat & 7/14 Sun: Garage Sale SWEATIN!!

I took a little garage salin' $$$ and treated myself...

I decided "Its SUMMA... SUMMA...SUMMA TYME!" So I took a leap and went for it...I cut my long hair that I have been holding on to for EVER! Its very much my security blanket but I have to admit it was never "pretty" long hair like I wanted it to be. My hair is very thin and dry and straggly, just flat and U.G.L.Y. 

So I thought...Short hair that I have always been afraid of, Can't be any worst that how it looks now.  I have to say...I LOVE IT! Its right at my shoulders.  Its bleach blonde (LOVE) and its just short and FUN! I love playing with it!

Also decided to put some BRIGHT color (hot pink) on the nails/toes in preparation for seeing them in the SAND! :D  

Tomorrow morning,  7/17 we will be beach bound!!! We are headed w The Johnson family to Orange Beach, AL. I'm very excited to get away, relax and soak up some sun. CAN. NOT. WAIT!!!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!!

Sweet Summertime...

  JULY IS HERE...The countdown has begun!

Im so ready for vacation & some beach action!!! I got a small taste of it this past weekend. I booked a girls overnight trip for my mamma and I to the Beau Rivage  in Biloxi, MS. Only we decided to bring along the kids. We drove up on Sunday morning and spent the day poolside. Then we went see the Bello Nock show "Funambula" Sunday night. The show was awesome. I thought for sure Bella would fall asleep. She was worn out and kept saying how tired she was but to my surprise she stayed fully awake and entertained the whole show. CJ also loved it! His favorite part was the contortionist, she was amazing.  The whole show I just kept saying..."WOW" "NO WAY". If you get a chance go see it this summer! 

Its been a busy week...

Out with the Old and in with the NEW...Rings true this week! 

The New Car

I traded in my car on Friday. One might say a "downgrade".  Its not as big.  Its not the top of the line. Its not all decked out w dvd player and leather like my Denali was...BUT I got a brand new 2014 Mazda Cx5 Sky Active.  I had to put the Sky Active part, not that I knew what it meant...but that's the WOW factor..from what I hear. lol Sky Active is basically just the brand new 2014 technology.  They re-did the entire car, engine, etc to make it the most fuel efficient car on the market.  Its so fun to drive. I love it! and getting 25-32 mpg is Super Awesome!!! Especially with my next BIG news....

The New House...Yes we put our offer in and it was accepted!!!! Now, Im still nervous because we have to have all the paperwork finalized and inspections done.  So Im not spreading the news to far just yet...(blog post is not quite the same as spreading it on FB lol) but Im excited to think that I could be in a new house and my kids in new great schools this school year!!! Which starts in just a few weeks...EEK! So the next few weeks we will be super busy, stressful, nerve racking, etc. But hopefully all very worth it in the end. 

With everything that went on this past week I managed to get in a few workouts but I do feel BLAH about myself. I need to get on track with my diet. Its been way out of control!! Luckily I haven't seen much of a gain, Im still in my range but it won't get better at this rate...


Last Weeks Workouts: 
6/24 Mon: Gym-> Chest & Tri's
6/25 Tues: Gym-> Spin Class:1 hr
6/26 Wed: Gym-> Bk & Bi's

6/27 Thurs: Gym-> Spin Class:1 hr (no collage)

 

This coming weekend is the July 4th weekend...Thursday, July 4th We  are going to the  Zephyr's baseball game. Im sure we will BBQ/Fireworks at some point this weekend.  I hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday!