A Newly Found Perception

Since I got married, I've gained weight. I've gained 15 lbs in the last 2 years. BLEHHHHHH.............................. So, off and on for a year now, I've tried to lose weight. Last spring, I was serious about it and lost 10 lbs. I lost those 10 lbs by joining http://www.sparkpeople.com/, doing cardio 5x a week and strength training 2x a week. SparkPeople is a great website that provides TONS of resources to help individuals gain control of their lives by changing their lifestyle. It allows a person to track their daily calorie intake, water intake, and fitness. It's amazing!

School ended and summer came. During the summer months, my husband and I bought a house, and I gained those 10 lbs back, easily. Now that my husband and I are settled in our new home and the new town, I'm ready to lose the weight, again.

At the end of November, I started the running program Couch-2-5K. I only completed 2 weeks of the program before I stopped due to sickness. Running while you are hacking and coughing is not fun. Trust me. I tried it. It's now mid-December, and I'm still overweight and haven't done any physical exercise in 2 weeks. During these 2 weeks, I've come to some realizations. I've come to the realization that I won't be losing any weight (on a conscious effort) before Dec 31st. I've come to the realization that I wasn't putting in enough effort before. Sure, I'm ready to lose the weight, but have I really put forth enough effort? No, I haven't. I wasn't tracking my calories. I wasn't drinking enough water. I wasn't cooking healthy. I wasn't buying enough fruits. I wasn't buying enough vegetables. Truly, for 2 weeks, the only thing I did was workout (running) consistently. To lose weight, I have to put forth more effort. I have to cook healthy. I have to eat healthy. I have to drink healthy. I have to workout for more than 2 weeks. I heard on the radio this morning that to lose weight, 20% comes from working out (cardio & strength train), and the other 80% is eating/drinking the right way.
SO............. Here's my conscious effort.
Effective January 1, 2011:
1. Joining a gym.
2. Cardio 4-6x per week.
3. Strength training 2x/week.
4. Sticking to 1200-1500 Calorie intake every day.
5. Tracking all 3 meals 5-6x/week.
6. Blogging EVERY DAY.
7. Cooking healthy (consciously) 5x per week.
8. Eating 2 fruits/day.
9. Eating 2 vegetables/day.
10. Drinking 8 cups of H20 every day.
I don't want to continue to fail at losing this weight and becoming healthy. I know I'm overweight. I know what weight I should be at. I'm not that far off from it. I know I can do it. I did it once, and I can do it again. I need to make conscious decision of making it a lifestyle change instead of a short-term change.

Now, just because I'm putting off my journey for another two weeks doesn't not give me free reign to do whatever the hell that I want. I'm still going to lightly monitor what I eat and drink. I just know it's going to be easier putting off this change until after the holidays. I didn't want to make this decision. I wish I was more assertive in the beginning and stuck to everything, but the reality is this: I didn't.
So, as of January 1, 2011, I'm going to jump on the bandwagon, with all the others, and I will begin being assertive. I will begin being diligent. I will begin being consistent. I will begin being conscious.

6 Months Later...

WOW... 6 months later, and I'm back on blogging!!!!  So many things have happened, and yet, I, once again, didn't take a whole lot of pictures to capture the moments. So, you'll have to bear with me on the lack of pictures. 

Right after my birthday (a.k.a., after my last blog), we took a trip to St. Louis for my birthday! We went to a STL Cardinals game with my cousin Lindsay, her husband Travis, their child Rae, my mom, my mom's friend/coworker Amy, my sister Kelli, Kelli's husband Cody, and their child/my nephew Matthew. It was a quick getaway and a much needed one at that.

 STL Arch June '10

This summer was a very stressful and rewarding summer. WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOME! I had no clue that it was going to be that stressful. It seemed like everyday I was on the phone with our loan officer and trying to supply her with the needed documents. It was so stressful that I cried everyday and gained the 10lbs that I had lost earlier that spring. So, after crying and gaining the weight back, it's rewarding because we own our home, and I love the feeling that I live in a house that WE own! 

Our First Home July '10

Summer soon faded into the fall, and school/my job began once again. This year, I'm not at the school I was assigned last year, which was Norwood. New speech therapists were hired by the same company that I work for; therefore, every speech therapist was assigned a different school than the one they were at last year. This year, I'm at Plato. I've now become accustomed to the kids and vice versa. In comparison to Plato and Norwood, overall, I prefer Plato. The reason why is the staff. Some of the staff at Norwood were a little difficult to get a long with and thought their sh*t didn't stink. However, at Plato, everyone is very laid back and very similar to the people that I grew up around, countryfied. 

Silver Dollar City 11-20-10

Soon after this picture was taken, I took a close look at all my recent pictures. I became disgusted with the way I looked. I knew I had to do something about it. So, I decided to starting the running program C25K (Couch 2 5K). I've only completed 2 weeks; haven't done the 3rd week yet because I've been sick. This coming week, I'm picking up where I left off and continuing on! 

Hopefully, I will continue to blog. I love blogging because it's a great way to "release" any frustration that I may have. 

Shine On!

Top 2 Tuesday: Guilty Pleasures

This weeks Top 2 Tuesday: Guilty Pleasures
There are a few things in life that I would consider a guilty please. Some would include Disney movies, HGTV, antiques, comedy shows, TLC, chocolate, cakes, pies, etc. However, those things really don't "define" to the mark on what I would consider my top two guilty pleasures. 
1. Bravo Tv

• Real Housewives (all cities)
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
• Watch What Happens Live
• Flipping Out
• Millionaire Matchmaker
• Working Out

I just can't get enough of that channel! My all-time favorite show on Bravo is Real Housewives of New Jersey. I'm hooked BAD! I'm so hooked that my husband (who is a manly guy) knows the people and their names on that show because I watch it all the time! Oopps! Didn't know I was that bad! A CLOSE second is Kathy Griffin. Now, I know that woman is dirty, but I can't get enough of her! SHE CRACKS ME UP! I can turn that show on (or a comedy show that she's doing) at midnight, just to help me fall asleep, and low and behold, I'm sitting in bed laughing my head off because she's just so funny! 

2. COFFEE

I LOVE coffee. I love the smell, the taste, the warmth of coffee! If I could, I would drink coffee all day long. However, I think my body would react with body-jerking/shaking reactions! Lol... 

I hope everyone has a Timeless Tuesday! GOD BLESS!

6-14-10

Today is Monday, June 14, 2010. This day is a multitude of things: 1. Monday; 2. Flag Day; 3. My Birthday; and 4. My Grandparents' Anniversary.


1. Monday
Ughh... Mondays... What is it about Mondays that drive us, the people, CrAzY!?!?!?!?!??!?! I would REALLY like to know the answer to that question. The main thing that helps me get through my Mondays is a GREAT cup of coffee! 

2. Flag Day
I wonder if people realize that today is a holiday. Probably not because it's not a National Holiday where state and federal employees get to take off work for. I, however, do think this this should be an important holiday that people recognize because it's a holiday that focuses on one of the symbolic icons of the United States of America: the American Flag. I do take pride in the fact that I am an American. I LOVE USA! I just wish ALL US citizens took as much pride in being an American as I, and others, do. It's just my opinion, but if you don't like it here, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! 

3. My Birthday

Today is my birthday. I am 25 years old. In other words a 1/4 of a century old. Wow... I'm not one of those people who hate and dread my birthday. Instead, I love it! For me, it's another reason to celebrate life and all of the blessings God has given you that year and pray and hope for more blessings to come in the next year.  

This birthday was definitely different-bad for me, which I will explain later on in this post. 

For my birthday dinner, my husband took me out to a local and amazing Mexican restaurant. I love salsa and can't ever get enough of it! After dinner, we drove on down to Dairy Queen for my favorite ice cream treat: Chocolate Extreme Blizzard! YUM! 

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY TO ME!

4. My Grandparents' Anniversary

Ever since I was born, or rather can remember, I've always shared my birthday celebration with the celebration of my grandparents' anniversary because I was born on their anniversary; however, this year on this day was different. My grandfather passed away on 1-26-10. So, instead of a day of celebration, it was nothing but a day of sadness and remembrance for me. Oh, how I missed being able to celebrate this day alongside my grandparents, especially my Grandpa. And, oh, how I miss my Grandpa! 

My grandma called me this morning to wish me a "Happy Birthday". We ended up talking about their anniversary and my Grandpa. For myself and my Grandma, I had to stay strong while I was on the phone with her, and I was. However, when I hung up the phone, I let it all out. I couldn't keep it in any longer. At that moment, I was so glad that I was home and by myself because I just couldn't deal with it while around others. 

Sorry to bring sadness at the end of this post. I hope everyone had a better Monday than I did. GOD BLESS!  

Weekend Recap

We had a busy crazy weekend!!! The biggest thing that went on was that my sister got married! My sister and her now husband got married this past weekend at a church in Springfield, MO. Here's a picture of the happy couple:

Sorry, but that's the only picture I have, so far. Didn't take too many of them!

After the ceremony, we hung out, with my family, at the reception for a couple of hours. My other sister, her husband, and their child (my AWESOME nephew Matthew) went to dinner at Hinode. All of us just LOVED the whole fire show our chef put on for us, especially Matthew. After our meal, we went our separate ways and went home. 

On Sunday, Brandon and I slept in (felt really bad about missing church, but oh well), and in the afternoon, we made our way down to West Plains to hang out with his family. We had a very casual dinner at his grandparents' house and then went to Mountain Home, Arkansas to go to Lowes and Home Depot to check out refrigerators! Since we are buying a home, obviously, we have to buy things for the home. One of the necessary items we have to buy is a refrigerator. We went back and forth between the two stores at least four different times checking on this and that. IT WAS EXHAUSTING!!! Even though we did not buy one, we did pick one out! The refrigerator that we picked out is a Samsung Engergy-Star, French-door with the freezer on the bottom. It also has an outside ice & water maker, LED light on the inside, and many other cool features that I don't remember! Haha! I know everyone these days are leaning towards the stainless steel appliances, but not us, well, not me, I should say! Lol... I just don't care for the stainless steel because of all the fingerprints, smudges, dirtiness that can show on them. Black hides everything, and I LOVE black appliances! 

Here's what the inside looks like; just imagine the outside black:

I hope everyone had a great weekend and can't wait to hear about them! GOD BLESS!

Thoughts of the day...

Okay... this is the 3rd and final time I'm going to blog today. I don't know why I've blogged so much. I guess it's because I've got a lot on my mind. Well, final time. That's it. I promise!

This coming September, Brandon and I will celebrate our 4th Anniversary of being together. We started dating at the beginning of September in 2006. At the beginning of our relationship, I only wanted to spend time with Brandon and him alone. However, as time as went on, I've wished and even prayed (and still do pray) that we would meet a couple who had similar morals, values, and lifestyles as we do. My friends are basically taken off this list because they live away in different towns, and one girl in a different state. Brandon's friends are crossed off because they are all single and living the party-life. So... yeah... we are kind of in a pickle.

I can't help but to fell jealous when I see, hear, or read about how other young couples get together, have friendships, and hang out together. I know I should not be jealous, and it's a petty thing to be jealous of. BUT... I can't help but feel this way.

When we move to Marshfield, I'm making it my goal for us to find a couple that we can hangout and have a good time with.

Five Question Friday

Thanks to Lynsie, I'm sprouting my wings on new blogs and am participating in Five Question Friday (brought to you by Five Crooked Little Halos). Here it goes!!! 

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship?

• LOTS OF THINGS!!!! A good friend is someone you can count on no matter what. A friend offers support, love, and kindness when others would judge. A friend is someone who is loyal and honest. A good friend knows laughter and can offer laughter as well. A good friend is someone who, during one moment, can tell you where to stick it when your out of line and during another is there to hand you a tissue to wipe away your tears. A friend offers hugs when others turn their shoulders. A good friend is someone who not only gets in trouble with you but helps you get out of trouble as well. See, there's LOTS OF THINGS that makes a good friend! 

2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted?

• Our 2007 Chevy Trailblazer that we bought a couple of months ago. It's now for sale since we are buying a house, and it's not financially sound at this time, for us at least, to pay for a house loan and a car loan at the same time. 

3. Have you ever had a prank played on you?

• OHHHH YEAH! Basically, my entire life is one big prank. I have so many family members that love to be sarcastic and play pranks on one another (switching drinks out for nasty nasty things... food fights... etc.). Since I married my husband (a.k.a, Mr. Humor himself), I live around that type of humor... Sometimes I don't mind it and enjoy the fun; other times, not so much...

4. What is your favorite theme park?

• My ALL TIME FAVORITE THEME PARK.... DISNEY WORLD!!!! It's the best place where adults and children can ALL be kids at the same time! I went there when I was around 3 years old but haven't been back since. My husband and I talk every once in a while about going there for a vacation. 

5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth?

• Only cats and dogs. Humans... NO! I don't know if I could watch that. No more details... that's it. :) 

LINK UP TIME!!!!