It's been a few days but.. I've got news!!

I'm still here and doing well!

It's been a busy weekend and beginning of the week. But I've kept up with exercising and eating right. It's that awful time and the month, so hopefully I'm not retaining or gaining too much. Oh!! I started week 4 today of the Couch 2 5k. Um damn! Run for 5 minutes??!! But I did it!! Wanna know what I did after the first 5 minute run? You guessed it!! Yes, I'm so the drama.. I shed a tear or two. You don't understand... Run for 5 whole minutes! And I did it. It was an awesome sense of accomplishment. Not only that, it was getting dark and cold outside and I was the only one on the track. I had a pretty full day and almost didn't go for that run. I'm glad I did!

More news...
I stopped teaching (elementary school) last year to pursue a dream of mine... to get my doctorate in clinical psychology. It was a hard program.. and I only completed one semester. I rocked my grades though! I finished the semester with two A's and two B's. But it was a hard semester. I worked so hard and had no free time. And it just didnt fit into our goals for ourselves (mine and my husband's). I want to start a family and not have to worry (financially) and school interferes with that. I couldn't fathom having a child in that stressful environment. So I made the really tough decision to stop school and go back to teaching. Easier said than done.. I could not for the life of me, get a job these past two months. Until today!!! Wahoo!!!! I got a job!!! I start on Monday! I'm so excited. I don't regret stopping my doctorate program. It just wasn't the right time. And that's how I like to live... No regrets!

Have a great week all! I'm heading to Florida for the rest of the week, so if I'm not around here... you know why.. Toodles!!!

It's that time!!

My weigh in day! Ready for it?.... I lost 2 pounds. So it's 181 now. So this is a good day!!

I wasn't able to go for a run yesterday. It rained like all day. So I pulled out a super hard tape to make up for the fact I couldn't run, so I did the Fat Blaster workout. And to make up for the fact I didn't exercise at all today, I'm doing it again tomorrow.

Have a great one you guys!!

So far, so good

This week has progressed along nicely. I've fit in a run and an extra workout everyday. Granted, it's just Wednesday, but, hey it's a good start right? I've also been on track with my eating as well.


So I went for another run/walk today. The second 3 minute run is no joke! Listening to my podcast... again... I was like ...' dude... say stop already!!!' He eventually did and now we're friends again. I'm using a stop watch now to, so I can see how much longer I have to go.




This is the strength tape I did. 40 minutes of upper body, lower body and abs. Ok, so I skipped the ab part (honestly, I just didn't feel like it). Shh!!! don't tell anyone! But I have a new plan. See below....

New Rule...

You know how I like my rules... I'm going to do an ab workout 5 days a week. Yep. I know you're wondering how... well, with my handy >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

5 day abs!!!

I told you I own every FIRM tape ever made. Sexy, isn't he?

Well, have a great one!

Can you believe it???!!!

I just had to come and share!!! I just finished my week 3, day 1 run of the Couch 2 5k. You guys... I ran for a whole 3 minutes!!! I literally shed a tear after the first three minute run. Yes, I'm so the drama queen! But I just couldn't believe it! It was awesome. The second 3 minute run gave the same feeling. I smiled all the way home!!




I got in a cardio workout earlier today as well. Did I mention that I own almost every FIRM exercise tape ever made. So here's the one I did today. 40 minutes of fun!






So you know just I'm ready tp watch the latest Biggest Loser tonight. They get to go home and hack it without the trainers.

Hope you all had a great day and stayed on track!

Attack of the Cheezits.... again!

Yeah, so my husband brought them into the house again last night. I tried to resist, but they were on the table right in front of me. He and our friend were just going to town on them and I didn't want to feel left out. It wasn't as bad.. so I feel better about that.. but damn.

On the exercise front...

I found this great new place to run. No hills, no lights (traffic). It's awesome. This elementary school down the road has a track. And there's no school today, so I'm headed out in a little bit for my run. All in all, I ran 4 days last week. I'm shooting for 5 days this week. I think I'm going to do my last week 2 run today and start week 3 tomorrow. C25k all the way!!

Speaking of the run... I'm off!

******************************

Ok, I'm back. That was a great run! It always feels so good to complete a run. Cool sense of accomplishment. So on to week 3! I'm going to think positive about week three though... I've got to. It's running for 90 sec, walking for 90 seconds.. then running for 3 minutes and walking for 3 minutes. You do that twice I believe. I'm just going to do what ever the podcast tells me to do. I'm also doing a strength tape tonight.

Mmm... food...

I'm going to eat pretty much the same as last week. I'm making another vegan meatloaf tonight (exciting!!). But instead of spinach, we dine on broccoli. Yep, fun times over here!

Well, I'm off to do a strength tape. Wish me luck!! (that I don't procrastinate and not get to it at all)

Finally!

Ok.... so for the first time in like two weeks, the scale has moved!!! I am weighing in at 183. 3 pounds gone!! oh yeah! Can we say 12 pounds gone for good?! Yeah, we can. Feels good.

I've been eating great this week, except for the horrible Cheezits day... but they were sooooo good! I've had strawberry smoothies for breakfast and salads for lunch. And you know what I've been having for dinner the past few nights.

I didn't go for a run today. I know, there was no excuse. But I'm on it tomorrow!!

I may come back and add more later, but for now that's it!! Ta-ta!!!!

So... I rock!

So I finally did it! I made a vegetarian meatloaf! Oh yeah, Oh, yeah! And it got the seal of approval from my hunny. And I made a bunch, so can we say leftovers!!! No more cooking for me for the rest of the week. I got the recipe from a fellow blogger... She's a mom, she makes fun lunches for her "schmoo"...she's just awesome! I want to be like her when I grow up! Here is the link:

http://www.veganlunchbox.com/loaf_studio.html

On the exercise front
So I wasn't able to go for my run today. Very bummed about that. It was too cold and gloomy out there. So.... I did a firm tape instead. Hopefully it's a bit nicer tomorrow and I can go out again. I haven't done a strength tape in about two weeks. The plan was to do them twice a week. I wonder if I can get one in tomorrow and Saturday? I'm definitely going to try!

New Rule
I am only weighing myself on Fridays now. Ok, so what I weigh myself everyday. But the scale isn't moving as fast as it did when I first started this low carb/low glycemic lifestyle change. So, it's not as exciting weighing myself everyday as it used to be. So... only Fridays now. I'm thinking I need to beef up the cardio if I want it to move. My eating has been great, except for that moment of weakness earlier today. Those Jack Cheddar Cheezits were calling my name! Darn my hunny for bring snacks back into this house!

Oh yeah, I changed the look of my blog!!! I get bored easily...


*****Update*****
Here is the actual recipe I used for my loaf:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pecans
2 TB olive oil
One onion, diced
Two celery ribs, diced
One cup mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
2 cups vegetarian burger or sausage crumbles
1 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 to 1/2 cup plain nondairy milk, as needed
1/2 cup cooked oatmeal
1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
2 TB ketchup
1 tsp. onion salt


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350º. Spray a loaf pan or 8x8 square baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside (an 8x8 pan makes a crisper loaf).

Grind the pecans into a coarse meal using a food processor or spice/coffee grinder. Place in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Sauté any vegetables you've chosen in the olive oil until soft. Add to the large mixing bowl along with all the remaining ingredients. Mix and mash together well, adding only as much liquid as needed to create a soft, moist loaf that holds together and is not runny (you may not need to add any liquid if the grains and protein are very moist). Add more oatmeal/rice as needed if the loaf seems too wet.

Press mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until cooked through.

Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then turn out onto a plate or platter and slice. Serve with potatoes, vegetables, and vegetarian gravy, if desired.

Cold leftover slices of make a great sandwich filling.

Yeah, man!!

So my meeting went great!!! Now we just need to agree to the financial stuff and I'm good to go!!! Woohoo!!! And for that, I'm going on a celebratory run!!! Hey anything to make the run exciting....

I feel like I'm still running...

Neato! I've changed the font and the font size. I get excited about the little things...

So I went for a run this morning. I'm on Week 2, Day 1 of the couch program. Basically, this week it's a alternating 90 second run with a 2 minute walk. Still using the podcast. It seemed like it took the guy forever to tell me to walk. I was like... dude... anytime now. But I finished it! I'm all extra energetic now. This day is just speeding by, which is good.

I need to start planning my meals. So far I've planned today and tomorrow's meals. I'm trying to learn how to master a tofu scramble for breakfast. Last week, I pretty much had cereal & fruit everyday for breakfast and the weight did not budge. So no cereal for a while. Lunch is pretty much always a salad with either tofu or veggie burger topping. Tonight we dine on portabella mushrooms and sauteed (how the heck do you spell that) spinach. Tomorrow's dinner will be a vegan meatloaf and sauteed spinach. Got some spinach I need to get rid of. Snacks are either string cheese or pistachios (my favorite!!!). Cooking is so much easier this week. My husband has decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle for the next two weeks. Keeping fingers crossed that he'll like it!!!

I may pop in a firm video later this afternoon to get some extra cardio in.

I'm meeting with the owner of a spanish school tomorrow morning to see if I can rent space in her building for my tutoring company. Oh, I hope it goes well!

He bailed on me and I got lost!!

I totally haven't stuck to the workout plan this week. But that's not to say I haven't worked out! In terms of strength... nada. But cardio... three times so far! So I started the Couch 2 5k running program. My husband, who used to be a long distance runner, usually runs it with me. But I know I'm holding him back. Sometimes, when we make it back home, he goes out again for another run. So yesterday, when I asked what time were we running that day, He's says, " You're going by yourself today. You can do it!!"....

Say what?

So after debating with myself on whether or not I was going to go... I went. I had my Ipod with my running podcast.. http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/podcasts/podcasts.html... I was good to go. I hardly ever drive through the back part of our neighborhood (we've lived in this area over a year now). I've never needed to. And I just follow my husband when we run, so I never pay attention. So I take off and I'm just running... looking so cute in my nike gear, twists pulled back.. couldn't tell me nothing. I was going to show my DH that I could do this!! Halfway through the run/podcast, I decide it's time to turn around and head back... but where was back? So I finished the rest of the run/podcast, thinking I'd be near the house by then... but nope! I circle the neighborhood like twice... I know those folks were like.. that black woman is so lost. I ended up finding this road I knew and walking UPHILL all the way back home. DH laughed and said, you didn't go the way I told you, did you. Granted I went the way he told me, I just forgot how to get back!

I'm paying attention on my run today!

Be Authentic

I lost a friend of mine this weekend. He was visiting family, helping with the arrangements of his own father's funeral and complained of having chest pains. He died at the hospital. He was only 34, so handsome, active and in great shape. He was such a genuine guy. Very sincere. Light-hearted, confident and sure of himself. As my grandparents would say "He was good people". When you spoke to him, you felt as if you were the only one in the room. He was a great listener, an awesome guy. Would have made a great mate for a lucky woman. He was really and truly a rare gem. So I'm in a state of shock right now. I'm hurting moreso for his family.

Be authentic you guys, at all times. In every moment, be present. Enjoy yourselves. You just never know. And take good care of yourselves. Watch how you manage the stress in your lives. Check in every once in a while with yourself... It sounds weird, I know, but it's prudent to listen to what your body is telling you. Take joy in the little things.

I'll miss you K.G.

I hurt

Ok, so I felt so great running yesterday( though it's after midnight, so should I say, two days ago). Well...jogging and walking. But today, I hurt!!! My outer thigh, my quads. But I will be at it again tomorrow (later today).

Off topic!!!
That was an awesome Super Bowl!!!! Yay, Giants!!! I lived in Boston for 3 years. Two of them were miserable years!!! Not a fan of that town!!! I loved this game tonight!!! It ranks right up there when my other two teams won the Super Bowl.

Ok, I'm going for another run (jog/walk) tomorrow!! Wish me luck!!!

tru!!!

See, what had happened was...

Ok, so not a good week. I didn't exercise at all!! I know, ridiculous, right?!! It was that time of the month and I couldn't get motivated. As a result of not getting up and moving and that whole time of the month bloating thing, I gained 5 pounds back. Very disappointed in that!! But, never fear!! I'm back at it! I feel like myself again. I'm also starting the Couch to 5k running program. I'd started last year, and the year before that, and the year before that and..... But this time, I'm starting with the podcasts!!!

http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/page4/files/683c0d1fb700c55e163e34d92ccf489c-2.html

This really nice guy from California set up a podcast to go along with the cool running couch to 5k program. Wasn't that sweet of him! So I'm downloading my first podcast and will be off and running (oh yes, pun intended!) as soon as it finishes. Then I'm coming back to wash and deep condition my hair. Fun times right?

So the workout plan this week
2/2 Run!
2/3 Super Cardio scult tape
2/4 Run in the a.m.; billy blanks in the p.m.
2/5 cardio tape in the a.m, strength tape in the p.m.
2/6 run in the a.m.; cardio tape in the pm
2/7 cardio tape in the a.m.; strength tape in the p.m.
2/8 run in the a.m.; cardio tape in the p.m.

I own every FIRM tape ever made. I've been itching to get the new ones, like the transfirmer ones, but I own a few that I haven't even done yet!! The DH won't let me buy any new ones til I work through the ones I have. Sucks!!!

I'll be posting a picture soon, so I can visually track my weight loss.

So does having a goal help anyone else? I have a family reunion in July. I want to show up looking fabulous!! We are having a banquet during the reunion with a 70's theme. I already have the hair down!!! So now I have to plan the outfit.

My download is done!!! Off I go!!