GingerKid

Changing Neighborhoods

2009-06-10T11:57:00.004-04:00

I'm going to abandon blogger for awhile. I'm moving to wordpress. So far it's more difficult but once I get the hang of things I think it'll be worth it. So it'll be a bit of a process but here is my new address - http://redhead75.wordpress.com/ Make sure you get this link into your bloggers because that's the one i'll be posting from for now...unless WP starts to piss me off! LOL!

NEW BLOG!!

Ever Have One Of Those Days?

2009-06-09T15:32:00.003-04:00

Where EVERYTHING goes GREAT! It started off with an awesome cardio session, a great breakfast and a pleasant walk with Boomer. She even found something along the way :)

Then I finally went to Goodwill and Half Price books and I left here at 10a, got all the green lights and made it back by 10:30a! I thought about stopping at Nature's Pharm but I knew I would buy things I really don't need like organic chocolate.

Then I was bored and didn't feel like doing my leg workout so I laid down to take a power nap(don't hate me I don't have any $$). I heard the doorbell ring and it was the UPS man with my Metrx! WOO!

Sweet, you can see my shiny gold tooth in this picture. Well you wouldn't know that's what it was but now you know. My grandpa had a gold tooth so I got one too! His was in the front, not sure I would go that far ;)

So then I was excited about my leg workout because afterwards I would get a chocolate shake! YUM! Okay, although I don't have any $$ these are worth every penny to me :)

Unmotivated Monday

2009-06-08T10:31:00.003-04:00

Do all you working people out there have things you need to do and think if only I didn't have to work today I would do ______. I use to think that all the time. I need to take a gazillion books to Half Price Books and i'm procrastinating like crazy! It's getting ready to rain and Boomer is afraid so that's now my excuse ;)

This day started off great! I got up and did an INTENSE half an hour cardio segment. It must have been the energy from the pie yesterday but I was kickin arse! I'm loving this energy I have during my workouts! Now if my strength would only be as intense WATCH OUT! I then took Boomer for a 2.5 mile walk and she's wore out! YES! Wearing a dog out that is half border collie isn't easy. I have an amazing shoulder workout for today and then tonight i'll throw in some step aerobics unless something good is on Oprah and then it'll be incline walking!

I got a new protein powder and it gets an A+++ in my books! YUM! I got the chocolate peanut butter and it's fantastic! I made my little protein brownie and added strawberries before I nuked it and it came out GREAT!

Okay that's enough rambling from me today...unless I think of something else. Oh the storms a comin...gotta stay home now :)

Please Give Me the Willpower......

2009-06-07T19:32:00.003-04:00

This is in my house! Typically it wouldn't last more than 2 days but I feel i'm over that. I think my problem is that when I was younger and in my "fat free" craze I would NOT touch nuts at all! I mean they are fat right? So now that i'm more educated I think they are healthy. They are, but not in the amounts I can consume them. So I am going to show myself that I can control this and win!!

Today my mom and I went to Jodi's hometown of Seymour to visit our cousin Bobbi Jo. Did you see that Jodi? We didn't even know LOL!!!! It was a fun visit because she is a hoot to be around. It was her b-day and my mom got her a chocolate pie. On the 45 min drive down there I ate my salad sans chicken but Bobbi cut 3 pieces of pie and I wasn't going to say anything. I did well though, I didn't eat the whipped cream or the crust and only a bit of the chocolate. Best part is I didn't freak out! I felt like a normal person! A few hours later I went out to the car and ate my apple and tuna :) I'll admit when I got home I did a half an hour of cardio but that's it LOL!

I want to get these abs back! I need this visual so that I don't go and eat some PB LOL!!!!!

Sammich!

2009-06-06T12:12:00.002-04:00

Woo! Today is sandwich Saturday! I LOVE Saturdays...especially when they involve sandwiches hee hee :) It is SO nice out here today. We had a garage sale and made $62! Now i'm gonna load up all the rest of the junk and take it to Goodwill. I'm going to sale my books at Half Price Books and make some more cash.

I need to do my bi/tri workout today. I just REALLY hate that workout. I would rather do an hour of cardio.

I almost weighed myself this morning. My stomach was empty I felt lean and I was curious. Then I thought again why does that stupid number even matter? If it's not what I want it to be then my day would be ruined so I didn't get on the scale.

My mom gave me her Rockin Roller to sale today. The lady that bought it looked at me and said it must work because you're skinny. I just smiled. What I really wanted to say was, this piece of junk won't work for anyone! Did you eat McD's for breakfast this morning? I did walk to McD's this morning to get Mike a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit and some dollars for our sale. It felt good to buy that and be healthy and thin. No one knew that is wasn't for me. I was that "she's lucky" girl for a minute. I hate when people say i'm lucky because I'm thin and don't have to worry about things. HELLO!!!! Maybe I should tell them to read my blog and they will find out it takes work and I am a mental case!!!

Don't Look Under Your Bed!

2009-06-04T14:57:00.003-04:00

There might be a Green Monster!

These are very good i'll admit...BUT...I miss my Met-rx!

1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond breeze(drinking skim milk right now though??)
1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder
3 strawberries
1/2 banana frozen
some spinach
some ice
DARN! I forgot the blueberries...oh well.

That was me when I realized I didn't have anymore yummy chocolatey packets left. Plus I think that's about my chest size too HA!

I need more digestive enzymes so I went to the Vitamin Shoppe. Can you believe that is the only thing I bought!! I'm so proud of myself :) I needed more fish oil but I know Target has that cheaper. I almost bought some chocolate vitamin D disks too mmm...but I put them back.

THEN I went to Kroger to get some more ACV. It was lunch time and I was ravenous. I picked up this, that, well i'll just buy some nuts and eat a few, these ice cream bars are only 90 cals...etc..looking at all the nutritional info on EVERYTHING. I bet people think i'm loony. Guess what I left with? ACV, tomatoes, and a dog treat WOO! I'm really excited about this new meal plan and I don't want to screw it up.

My Happy Place

2009-06-03T12:30:00.007-04:00

I haven't weighed in a few weeks and I SWEAR i'm happier and leaner! Not knowing what that number is helps my mental state. Sure it may come back to bite me in the ass but the freedom is nice right now. My clothes are loser and i'm eating things I never thought I would get to have! I love Tony...right now LOL!

I've been going by my measurements. Isn't that little girl cute, I swear that looks like me when I was that age...measuring myself ugh.

Measurments 5/31

waist-24.5
hips-35
thighs-21
Measurments

Measurements 3/16

waist-25.5
hips-36.5
thighs-22

So something is happening and i'm really pleased with my body right now. Sure being show ready and 107 lbs is when i'm happiest...or is it? Right now and especially since I don't have the $$$ to compete i'm content. I'm not settling or maintaing though! I'm killing my workouts and loving the carbs WOO! This is NOT a bulk phase. This is a show my fat cells whose boss phase!

Man, I want this DVD so bad. Not having money SUCKS! I need a sugar daddy LOL!

C.O.W

2009-06-01T08:20:00.002-04:00

Cream of Wheat in my tummy, Cream of Wheat it's so yummy!

Told you i'm LOVING this diet right now LOL! A few months ago I asked Tony if I could eat this to switch things up. He says not yet. So now on this kick butt diet I get it! Only today but still it's a start ;)

My workouts and cardio sessions have been killer! Now I love when the fitness girls posts their workouts and then I can attempt them :) Thanks Em, Lishia, and Jenn!

The Amazing Sniffer

2009-05-31T10:04:00.003-04:00

I was out at the park walking Boomer this morning and it smelled like honeysuckle and it brought back some great memories. Memories of being young and reading my scratch and sniff books. I love it when you smell something and it brings back awesome memories. Especially those when you were little and didn't have a worry in the world.

My diet right now is AWESOME!!!!! OMG!!! The best part is i'm feeling leaner! Not to mention my cardio sessions have been off the chain! I actually ate a sandwich yesterday...yes bread. The ironic thing is I also got a rice cake with PB. I ONLY get rice cakes on show days and yesterday would have been my show day LOL! I haven't weighed though. I figured as long as i'm sticking to plan it shouldn't matter.

New Diet and New Goals

2009-05-29T09:56:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I've been reading blogs but just haven't felt or had the time to post. Yesterday was a tough day but we all survived. Thanks again for all you wishes and Elizabeth we had some extraordinary grandparents huh? They made it easy for us to remember them LOL! Memorial Day, Genius! My gma, aunt, mom and I are going to have a vanilla latte on that day from now on because that was gpa's favorite drink :) Did I tell you how organized he was? Man, I wish I had got that from him. Instead I get mine from my dad....it's in the shoe box somewhere. I think I learned some new techniques from him that I will try. It wasn't hard for my aunt to find things that's for sure.

Wednesday I got a new diet!! It's the best diet i've had since being with Tony LOL! It won't last long though so i'll just enjoy it why I can.

I've finally quit looking at pictures of what I want to look like. I mean I need to focus on getting my body to a point where I am healthy and look MY best. I'm really liking the bikini physique right now. You all know how much I change my mind so it may be different tomorrow but check her out...I can look like this only with my body. I have a smaller waist, fuller butt and legs, so when I do get a job and schedule I may be doing a bikini contest in the future? Not in Indy though because they don'thave them. Jodi told me the KY Muscle will so maybe that'll be a goal??

Not So Happy Memorial Day

2009-05-25T14:59:00.003-04:00

My grandpa was always doing something in his shed. He was so handy and could do anything. That was up until this February when we found out he had cancer. On a positive he only suffered for a few months, on the negative we will all miss him so much. It hasn't really sank in yet. My grandma said she feels like he will pop through the door any time but she knows he won't. He came into this world on Halloween and he left on Memorial Day.

GRANDPA'S TOOL SHED

Grandpa's tool shed is a special place,
Full of mystery and delight,
Where little kids can come and watch
While Grandpa builds a kite.

Each day before the sunset,
Grandpa is always there,
The sound of his saw and hammer
Filling the evening air.

Grandpa can fix anything
And make it look brand-new-
He fixes toy cars and airplanes,
Trucks and trailers, too.

There are many happy moments
Pleasant to recall,
But Grandpa in his tool shed
Is the nicest one of all.

~By Marie Dostan~

My grandpa always told me to "Keep your powder dry".

What A Fabulous Weekend!

2009-05-24T21:17:00.004-04:00

Friday:

Mom and I had a GREAT time! I think I helped take her mind of off grandpa for a bit. We ate BBQ for lunch and sampled 4 different flavors of fudge. Vanilla caramel, Turtle Pecan, Peanut Butter, and Heath Toffee. The turtle pecan was my favorite because it wasn't as sugary...did I just say that? The weather was perfect and we walked...ALOT!

PICTURES!
Saturday:

Mike and I took Boomer to Brown County for a 3 mile hike. OUCH! My legs are still sore. It was a great workout and afterwards we went and got ice cream :) He got a chocolate ice cream and I got a swirl froyo YUM!

Sunday:

I woke up and it was so nice out that Boomer and I went for a 45 min walk. It was nice to stretch my sore legs. Then I went to Target and I was craving pizza. I bought some flatouts and organic tomato sauce for mine. I also did 45 mins of Lishia Deans amazing fun cardio workout! This was in preparation for the pizza. It was yummy too! I put red onion, tomato, mozarella and a bit of goat cheese on it mmmm...Now all that is out of my system. I'm ready to prep my body for a bikini July 4th weekend.

I skipped my bi/tri workout today. Well I did a few of the exercises but I figure my freaking arms just won't grow so what's the point. Wrong attitude I know but I really just don't care right now.

Side Step Two

2009-05-22T07:32:00.004-04:00

I got a call yesterday and they decided to fill the purchasing position from within. Then he said that Micki my interviewer was impressed with me and wondered if I would want to come in an interview for the admin asst position. I thought what the heck! It's the same pay and i'm positive I would do a great job. So this morning i'm out for another interview :) The problem is since I only live in workout clothes and my last job I wore a uniform I have NO clothes! Sure I have all those nice cruise dresses but they're NOT interview material. I went to Von Maur, JCPenney and Macy's last night. HELLO! Do they make anything smaller than a 6P? Everything was huge on me...which makes me happy ;) I'm a freak and I don't like wearing girly suits so I have a wrap dress that i'll throw on. I HATE the color of it though. I just need to flash my cheesy smile and show them i'm right for the job.
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Jodi I think it's almond butter and some sort of jam. Unfortunately it's not mine. I stole it from photobucket. I couldn't tell you the last time i've had bread mmmmm...nice soft warm bread with apple butter. Better yet make those fried biscuits with apple butter. Did I ever tell you I had that at my wedding? HA!

Mom and I are going HERE today!! We went last year too and had a blast. YES there will be fudge sample tasting :)

PWO Meal

2009-05-21T13:11:00.002-04:00

What does everyone consume post workout? I usually have my Met-rx shake or just a whey shake. I LOVE Met-rx!!! However, until I have a good income again I just can't justify it. Not to mention I don't know what half of that crap is i'm putting into my body. It does taste good though HA!

Step Two Complete

2009-05-20T16:20:00.004-04:00

I went for my interview today. There were about 6 others I saw come and go while I was there. Keep your fingers crossed for me! I actually think I would like this job. My last job I managed over 1000 components and this would be a job buying frozen food HA! How awesome would that be? It seems MUCH easier and less stressful than my last job. Like i've said though...if it was meant to be it will be. I'll find out Friday if they need me back for a 2nd interview.

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Gramps is home! My aunts and uncles were going to put him in a home for the next 2 weeks so he could gain some strength. Then they decided to just go ahead and take him home and let him live his life there. Grandma isn't capable of doing everything for him but as long as we can all schedule times to make sure he gets his meds etc...she'll be okay. She wants to take care of him :) I heard her say "why are you winking at me?"..grandpa says "i'm just trying to put a smile on your face". Then when I was leaving he told me to keep my powder dry. He always say that to me so it made me cry :'( In a happy way though!

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FRUIT OF THE WEEK

I think i'm getting carb face but I love fruit!!

See those 2 little white cups on the second shelf? Yep, those are PB containers. They've been there for 4 days now!! Can you believe it? Now if that was a whole jar I swear it wouldn't last. My brain works in weird ways.

Step One Complete

2009-05-18T15:08:00.002-04:00

I placed my application today. It was a hiring event and there were TONS of people there. I must say that again I was the youngest. The guy scanned over it and seemed impressed that I was applying for the purchasing agent and not the admin asst. I gots skills okay! Part of me thinks I NEED a job before I get to use to not having one. Another part of me thinks what if I do get accepted for college etc...ugh! If it was meant to be then it will happen. So while doing my shoulder workout this afternoon I see an unknown number on my phone and let the voicemail pick it up. It was Joy calling from Aldi wanting to set up an interview :) It's this Wednesday at noon.

I want to thank all of you for the wishes on my Gramps and my future. You all are the best!

What the Hay?

2009-05-17T18:02:00.004-04:00

This place a mile away is having a hiring event tomorrow. Aldi food store. They have a position open for a purchasing agent. I am overqualified and we'll see what happens. I'd only be losing $1.30 an hour from my last job so that's pretty awesome. I just don't know what to do. I really need to get a job ugh...I hate decisions LOL!

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Grandpa is acting better but the cancer is now in his bones. They changed his meds so hopefully that will help his confusion. Today is his and grandma's 62nd anniversary. Grandma says it'll probably be there last and then starts crying :( I haven't seen her cry yet so it was good for her to get it out.

I did take my lunch bag full of yummies though so there was no granola or nut eating :)

Life

2009-05-16T17:26:00.002-04:00

I'll try to make this story short. My grandpa is in the hospital. We found out he had cancer a few months ago and he went through radiation etc..I was there Thursday night and it just wasn't my grandpa. They said his calcium level was high and that was causing confusion. Normally I would have been a mess because I had only got 3 workouts in and I HAD to get in my 4th. Screw that. I went 4.5 hours without eating...who cares. I would LOVE to say that I didn't even think about those things but the truth is I DID. I HATE thinking like that!

Today my husband had an eye appt at 8:30a. We decided that i'd go with him and then we'd go to the store together. Well to make another long story short(too late) he was in there for an hour and 15 minutes. What did I think about? How I didn't get up for EMC and now i'm just sitting in the car clipping coupons letting my oats lay on my hips. I mean how mental does that sound?? So I decided to walk around town in my flip flops, it was better than nothing. We go to the store where i'm a complete BITCH and I know i'm being that way but I can't stop. I think i'm PMSing but in reality i've been PMSIng for the last year without having a period!! Okay, i'm going to make a DR. appt this week and see what's up.

I came home and ate lunch and went back out to the hospital. My grandpa is doing much better today. He knows who we all are so that's good. My eating hasn't been that great during this time. I had some organic chocolates and a bite of my hubs dinner last night not to mention the salad I got at lunch had peanut dressing when I asked for balsamic vinegar on the side LOL! Today I had some cashews and a half of a granola bar. I wish I didn't care. Those things aren't THAT bad. It's not like I ate a large fry or a thick shake but that is how my brain works and i'm REALLY trying to get it fixed. I have been looking at other blogs where people are "healthy" and not "neurotic". I tend to be the latter i'll admit.

Ho Ho Ho, Green Giant

2009-05-14T12:46:00.006-04:00

Am I suppose to count this as 1 spear or 5? LOL! Some of these are HUGE YUM! I'm into eating them raw too...weird.

I THINK...I might actually have TOM cramps?? I'm so excited! That would mean my body is getting healthy again! If I ever want to stop it again I could always do almost 3 hours of cardio a day. I'm still doing almost 2 but some of that is step aerobics and walking my dog. You know the stuff that isn't boring or monotonous. I'm loving life right now!!

The people at the place I volunteer think i'm a rockstar. I just like to work smarter not harder. So far i've mailed things, entered library books into the computers, labeled them and picked ties out for job fairs :) I haven't worked with the kids yet but that'll be soon enough!

My husband told me my legs look good in the shorts i'm wearing :) Those are the BEST compliments WOOHOO!

Walmart is giving out free samples of Sun Crystals. This is the stuff that I THOUGHT made that tea the bomb LOL!

Oh Snap!

2009-05-13T10:56:00.007-04:00

I had some tea last night with real sugar! A few months ago this would have been the end of my world. I admit I had a bit of anxiety from it. I did NOT know that it had real sugar in it. I just thought the new stevia I bought was the bomb. Then after 2 glasses my mom told me there was already SUGAR in it!! So now I know that i've been lying to myself for the past couple of years. Things DO taste better with real sugar it's not my imaginiation LOL!

My day started off like this:

Mmmm...look how big these are!

A guy I use to work with called me up last night. "April I have 8 lbs of asparagus that I picked. I don't know anyone else who would want it". YIPPEE!!!! He also gave me a bottle of honey from his bee hive SCORE!

I also must mention that I am in awe of you that are able to only add 1 tbsp of peanut or any other nut butter to your oats or an apple. I really CANNOT keep a jar in the house or I would eat the whole thing. I can have the 100 cal pks of almonds and be safe though. I have 1 pack a day and don't go back for more. If you can count out 15 almonds from the jar and only eat those you are the woman! Not me, if I kept a jar 15 would turn into 30. So although I can pass up pizza, cake and other crap I do have a weakness :)

Are YOU Serious?

2009-05-12T14:10:00.003-04:00

Do you still order the latest and greatest workout gadget? Are you past that yet? I know I am...thank goodness. I still see some things and think hmmmm...then I slap myself in the face and get real. It is NOT easy losing and keeping weight off. It's not suppose to be. If YOU want it then YOU will succeed.

Now i'm seeing these sort of websites all over the internet and blogs HEALTHY DONUTS Are you kidding me? This is just another wave of the "fat free" craze that got America fat in the first place. Oh my they only have 3g of fat! WOW! Just ignore the fact there are 31g of carbs and 14g of sugar people!! That won't go to your butt or thighs because they are fat free!! AAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

Now if you are one of THOSE people who can eat this kind of crap and stay "healthy" i'm bowing to you and I hate your guts. I don't like donuts so maybe that's why i'm able to say this stuff :) If it was chocolate cake though give me the real thing!

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Stomach is STILL bloated like crazy. It's kind of cool though...I have a puffy six pack and my low pelvic muscles are popping out like a guys :) Okay maybe i'm sick and twisted. This is what i'm staring at right now:

No wheat or dairy, only 1 piece of gum at night after brushing my teeth.

GOOD LUCK TINA!!!!

What Am I Eating?

2009-05-11T07:36:00.003-04:00

No this isn't a post of what I actually eat. Trust me you'd skip right over that. I see all these blogs with yummy food etc...and I drool! I'm pretty plain jane when it come to eating. Mustard is about all the flavor you'll find.

So why is my stomach so bloated and upset?? I start out in the mornings and i'm doing good but around noon it inflates like a balloon! Last week I was getting Mike a sugar free pudding cup and I DID lick the lid. I swear it's from that but he thinks i'm nuts. Seriously i've been sleeping on the couch for the past 2 nights, it's THAT bad.

Another thing it could be is Truvia? I've used it before though and haven't had problems with it. I only use 1 pack in my coffee but I guess i'll cut that out too and see if that helps. Ugh....I really thought I was gonna die last night.

I really think this could happen to me!

Plyo Oh My Oh!

2009-05-08T07:28:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday everyone!! I think my husband is jealous of my unemployed status. He's starting to make snide remarks and when I told him TGIF I don't think he found it funny this morning LOL!

I got an email from IUPUI the school i'm trying to get into summer classes and they said they need a copy of my high school transcript. I'm already WAY behind on enrollment so i'm not sure if i'll get in or not. If not i'd have to wait until Spring to take the pre-requisites and then classes don't start until fall. Now that i'm thinking about it i'm not sure if I want to go back to school?? Dang, I change my mind so much I confuse myself.

My uncle knows a man hiring for an office manager at a church and it sounds like cake work but I doubt it pays very much. I'd rather get unemployment and have freedom for a bit :)

My mom and I do aerobics together on Tues, Thurs, and one day on the weekend. I have Comcast and there is exercise TV on there so we just pick one of those and go at it. I try to pick "easier" ones so she can keep up. I amaze myself and my husband at how well I do in step aerobics. To me it's like dancing, you watch and then do it. I LOVE it!! So anyway the one we did last night KILLED me! OUCHY! It was AWESOME! I normally don't do plyos and i've been trying to shock the fat out of my body and i'm sure that did it :) My mom only lasted 10 minutes but we were both dripping when we got done. I was soaked LOVE IT!!!!

I saw this on Pauline Nordin's blog and I LOVED IT! I have a lot of LOVE today LOL!
Do you want to like what you see every day in the mirror and have a positive outlook on yourself or do you want to keep on hiding and blaming your genetics?
This is so true. So many people think they are just destined to be fat. I have a small waist and wider hips. I cannot change that HOWEVER I can get the fat off of them. I have blue eyes, I can't change that(well I could). I have larger thighs when i'm NOT eating exactly to meal plan. Who's fault is that? When people see my show pics they tell me how little my legs are. I swear they are NOT little EVER...just during the water drop week. BUT..they are getting there. I'm molding them to be the way I want them to be. Altzheimer's and high cholesterol ARE genetic in my family and that is why i'm eating and working out the way I do!!!

LOVE THIS QUOTE BY TONY :)

2009-05-06T16:00:00.002-04:00

"I'm Maintaining" is another way of saying I'm choosing to NOTHING. Greatness comes ONLY to those who continue to knock down the walls of Complacency. YOU will be the only one responsible for the legacy you leave behind. Tear it up and leave one for all to remember...Get out my way!

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After I saw this I quit having a pity party for myself. I am NOT happy at 120. I am better than that. I will fight my body for all it's worth to get where I want to be. I'm still eating my strawberries though ;)

So you can't lose weight? Well you aren't pushing yourself then. You're happy where you're at? BS! You're just lazy and don't want to put in the work. You don't know why you can't lose weight? I've been there too, hire a trainer they work miracles...IF you do the work.

I'm trying to get myself on the treadmill LOL! I think that did it!

Roses and Bumble Bees

2009-05-06T07:34:00.003-04:00

Today I feel GREAT! Mood is up and i'm loving life! Maybe it was those strawberries I had Monday? I better get some more of those :) On Monday I weighed 120.4 lbs and this morning 116.8!! What did I do you ask? I'm not real sure. Just a few little things really:

Used Truvia instead of Splenda (3g of carbs per pkt but it's all natural)
Wanted to cry thinking about getting on the treadmill so i've been doing some step
Getting all 6 meals in
Haven't had asparagus in forever because it cost as much as a doctor's visit, so i've eaten them for the past 3 days. Not much just 7 spears with dinner
Cut cardio in half...except I actually add the step because it's fun

Of course Tony added something too ;)

So I hope this loss brings to 115 in the next few weeks! The best part is i'm not killing myself anymore and i'm not worried about "making weight". I'm not a wrestler and I know that looks count, weight doesn't. I know 116 doesn't sound like a lot of weight but I store it all in my hips ugh....so it looks fat.

Stats: 5/6
Height 5'3
Weight 116.8
Waist - 24.5
Hips - 35.5
Thighs - 21.5

Typically my waist to hip ratio is 10" apart...SOOO hopefully that means the fat will be coming off soon and my hips will measure 34.5!

What am I going to obsess over when I am able to lose this fat and lean out for life? NOTHING!!! LOL!

Giggity Goo

2009-05-05T07:57:00.005-04:00

I have been an emotional mess lately! AAAHHHGGGGG!!!! I'm not sure what is wrong with me. One day i'm on top of the world the other in HELL. Yesterday I cried thinking about working out. All day long all I wanted to do was cry. I'm reading a book on androgen disease. There was a sentence that stuck out in my mind....Has your body forgotten it's female? YES! I haven't had a period in 8 months! It also talks how many women think they are healthy because their diet is good and they exercise but if you don't have a period that IS a VERY important sign that your health isn't good....sigh. Well here's my diagnosis.

It looks as if I won't be competing in May. Tony and I had a long conversation yesterday and I think i've made my decision. I'm not sure what's wrong with my body but it's NOT cooperating. I'm okay with that. I know i'm under stress with the job loss etc...and competing isn't my life. I just hate to throw out that OCB card and not get another use out of it LOL!

We're suppose to get better at each show too. I would NOT be leaner than I was in Novemeber. I have to keep that in mind. I think i'm just a later in the year competitor and there is nothing wrong with that :) Until I can get my weight under control I don't need to worry about comps. I'm not at all disappointed with my physique right now it's just less than 4 weeks is NOT going to cut it. Sure there are hoops I could jump through but I am NOT willing to screw my body up anymore than it already is. Tony has cut my cardio in half and we're going to make ME happy. This prep has become a burden and no fun and when that happens what's the point?

I'm sure tomorrow i'll be all rainbows and butterflies :)

Say Whaaaat?

2009-05-03T09:35:00.002-04:00

I was in Target this morning and saw some bright red strawberries. They looked so good so I bought them! YUMMY! My husband is proud of me :) LOL!

Cookout Update* LOL!

2009-05-02T21:52:00.001-04:00

I told you I was feeling strong! Not a single ounce of food went into my mouth. The best part is I wasn't sad about it. I did go past my 3 hour without food mark *gasp* who cares.

Mini Marathon Update*

2009-05-02T14:22:00.003-04:00

What a GREAT morning for a mini marathon! HECK NO I didn't run in it but I go to support my hubs. I should say Boomer and I do :) We walked downtown for an hour and 20 minutes and I thought I should head to the finish line. I knew the Kenyans had already finished because the helicoptors were swarming over it. Mike had a goal to beat 1:30:00 and be in the top 500 finishers. Well to our surprise he finished UNDER that! I'm not sure of the exact time yet but it's between 1:27:00 and 1:28:00. I'm so proud of my man. His next race...the Indy Marathon and his ultimate goal is to qualify and run in the Boston Marathon!

So my husband really enjoys running. I really enjoy watching my body getting leaner. Not sure yet if 4 weeks is enough time to get stage ready but i'm not gonna stress over it. After losing my job i've been doing a lot of soul searching and thinking about things and if this happens it happens. I'm tired of scheduling my life around competing...there I said it. This doesn't mean i'm heading for the next ice cream shop or not killing my 3 workouts a day :) I'll continue this until i'm a lean mean machine in my mind.

I may take some progress pics tomorrow just for the H of it.

OMG! I drank coffee today without Splenda!! There's something that's making me hold some weight so i'm gonna see if that could be doing it. I'm really getting into this organic and all natural thing.

My husbands runner friends are having a cookout this afternoon. Typically I wouldn't go because of the stupid usual reasons...gotta do my workouts...don't want to be tempted. I feel strong today though. My workouts are in and I don't want to eat crap. Not to mention they eat pretty healthy except for all the alcohol which isn't a problem for me to resist.

I'm really changing for the better I think!

p.s. Stupid me forgot my camera this morning, thank goodness Mike's parents were there with theirs!

Where am I?

2009-05-01T08:27:00.002-04:00

Seriously, do I live in Seattle? Cornfield behind my house, flat as can be,(the land not me although that is true too) McDonalds not Starbucks on the corner, nope still in Indiana. I'm SICK of the freaking rain!!!!!

My sister's house is ALMOST most finish. She is basically going to have a brand new house after the flood June 7th 2008...yes she's still homeless. Her and my BIL have been staying with my dad so she's okay though. Her house will be done just in time for another flood :) I really wanted to help her decorate etc...but with no job now that won't happen.

I was watching Oprah yesterday and it was the one where Kirstie Alley admits she's fat again. You know why? She moved all of her workout equipment to her garage and didn't use it for the last year and a half. Also the Jenny Craig people don't weigh her every week. I find that if I don't weigh myself every week it's really easy for the weight to creep up. When I first started with Tony I lost weight like a champ, it was a loss everytime I stepped on the scale. My body was molding itself into something it's never been before. Now I know i'm still molding but it's not been my friend lately. Up and down, i'm 118.6 as of yesterday. I didn't weight this morning because I didn't poop yesterday LOL! So back to Kirstie. She doesn't point blame on anyone but herself. She is responsible. Not her trainers or Jenny Craig.

My husband begged me not to color my hair :( If I do he probably wouldn't even notice! I'm getting it trimmed tonight so i'll ask the hairdresser more about it.

I'm really excited about helping out with the Easter Seals. I found out more about what i'll be doing and that is helping autistic children ages 6 mos~18 years. I have been doing some research but I have also asked MelissaH to answer any questions that I have as she is living with a child who has autism. She would be able to help more than any professionals out there. Thanks Melissa!!!

Timeline of Insantiy

2009-04-29T08:32:00.003-04:00

This is how is started:

1985-Jazzercise with my Aunt

1987-Watched Dirty Dancing, remembering my Aunt saying she will not eat the rest of the week so she can look like Jennifer Grey

1989-Wake up at 5a before school to work out with Gilad and watch BodyShaping while getting ready

1990-Started the fat free craze

1991-Got involved in Color Guard and started losing weight...people noticed.

1992-Still eating fat free and not losing

1993-Starved to get lean for Prom...weight 109 GOAL!

1994-Worked at Fast Food restaurant and would eat baked potatoes because they did not have fat

1995-Started College...need I say more

1997-Partying Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat. Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol....I got up to around 135 during this time and was CHUBBY!

1999-Preparing for marriage. Living off of Hamburger Helper and fish sticks but running 3 miles 4x's a week. Got to 115! I felt great at my wedding :)

2002-Starting binging purging. Nothing else would work but this definitely did. WOULD NOT recommend it. Who knows what kind of damage I did to my system.

2005-Still working out. Thought I was eating right now. Bowl of cereal in the morning w/ banana, yogurts and granola bars, and a sensible dinner.

2007-Dreambodies. Wow, I learned SO much this year. If I would have only known how to eat in 1987.

2009-Still staying leaner and healthy even though what I see in the mirror is still the chubby girl who has always struggled.

Throughtout these years there is one thing that I have done consistently and that is work out. I LOVE to be in motion! My workouts have more meaning now though. I understand so much more about my body.

I'm starting to believe in the "chemical consumption" ruining the health and storing fat. My mom will be my test subject until i'm mentally prepared to venture on my own.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!

2009-04-28T11:33:00.004-04:00

Today is my mom's 56th b-day. I made her a sugar free pudding pie :) I'm helping her get healthy. We do aerobics together on Tuesdays, Thursday and one day on the weekend and have SO much fun!

So i've never done this but i'm thinking about putting some of that non permanent coloring in my hair?? I can't remember the color but i'm feeling spunky? Yay or
nay?

I went to my grandparents house yesterday to help my grandpa send how his pacemaker is working over the phone! Technology people! This way he doesn't have to go to the hospital and have it checked. It makes me feel good to help old people. I also love to hear their stories even though I hear my grandma's EXACT same one 5 mins apart :( The weird thing is she had made green beans and potatoes and told me that these are the potatoes you brought me last week. Some things she remembers and others she doesn't. Like she'll tell me something and 5 mins later she tells me the same thing. Of course my mom does this too and then I just say Alzheimer's mom? LOL! It's really NOT funny in our family though EEK!

This morning I jumped out of bed and had a GREAT 60 mins cardio session! In just a bit I have a chest crit. LOVE doing chest!!!

When you add a new pretty blog background don't forget to delete your old one!!...just sayin ;)

Fun With the Fam!

2009-04-27T09:03:00.007-04:00

So we couldn't let the beautiful weather go to waste! We took Boomer to the Canal downtown Indy and it was gorgeous! I had already walked her this morning for 50 mins so we just did a leisure walk and she was spent LOL! My girl is getting old. It's so nice to be more relaxed about not having a set schedule. Boomer walk up to a shade tree and Mike and I noticed she needed to rest. We just laid under the tree and relaxed for 20 mins. I'm usually all high strung and have to keep moving but let me tell you it felt GREAT to just chill! I can tell Mike was happy too. I didn't ONCE mention how okay we need to get home so I can workout.

Then we walked by a coffee shop. I got myself a cafe americano, Mike an iced tea, and Boomer a water which she lapped up like she had just walked through the desert. The best part was it was only $3.65 and tasted WAY better than Starbucks(sorry Kelly O). The lady even asked if Boomer wanted ice or not LOL! I told her no ice ;)

Our old apartment...man it's been FOREVER since we lived there it seems.

I don't know what was wrong with me last week but I was beat down. I wouldn't wake up until 7:30a and then I just didn't feel like doing ANYTHING. My stomach had been upset all week and it was all I could do to get on the treadmill and do my weights. I am one who LOVES to workout so I was really discouraged. This morning I woke up at 6a and fixed Mike's lunch and got on the treadmill and had a GREAT workout! I guess I had just hit a wall but i'm feeling better now :) My weight is still at 120 but I can't give up. What good would that do?

Time of Firsts

2009-04-25T08:50:00.002-04:00

So yesterday I thought I would go and get a library card. I haven't had one since elementary school. If I want a book I just buy it. Now since i'm unemployed I need all the freebies I can get! This morning i'm going there because they are having a volunteer fair. Next week i'm already volunteering for the Easter Seals. I just NEED to do something and feel useful again :) It's nice being able to workout whenever but I thrive for structure. Volunteering will be a good networking tool also so i'll keep that in mind.

I also went and got some tomatoes from the Farmer's Market yesterday. I was going to go to Kroger but thought I bet there produce is WAY better...I was right.

My weight is still around 120. Gaining and losing that same ounce. It's really getting frustrating but since i've got a lot of time to focus i'm seeing how stupid that is. I'm just not gonna worry about it. If it happens it happens. I'm eating my meal plan and doing the workouts and extra cardio so if my body isn't cooperating it's not the end of the world. Some people compete because they LOVE the competition. I compete to keep myself in shape and to hang out with my friends. This show I don't think any of my friends are doing anymore so what's the point? I'm not giving up though...I still have that goal of 115 that I want to happen NOW LOL! Trust me, I was watching my husband eat 2 cheeseburgers last night drooling. Pizza the night before and Haagen Daaz. I'm sure he lost 5 lbs from it.

Speaking of him...he's doing a mini marathon next weekend! His goal is under 1:30:00. I'll keep you posted!

Mmmm...Java

2009-04-24T13:44:00.000-04:00

Still around....

2009-04-23T11:33:00.001-04:00

I'm still plugging away. I'm about over the bad turkey I ate thank goodness! Weight loss has stopped and it's frustrating but I just keep thinking about the warm weather and short shorts I want to wear this summer.

Dear Body,

2009-04-20T08:16:00.002-04:00

I know it's part of nature for a woman to have fat on her hips and lower stomach. I know this is for reproductive purposes but remember what i've told you all along? If you didn't have kids by the time you were 30 then you wouldn't have them. Well you'll be 34 this year so there is no need to hold on to the hip and stomach fat okay? There will not be any little gingerkids running around. I appreciate you trying to protect me but i'll be okay without that. Thanks for listening and I have a little over 5 weeks so HURRY UP and burn it off! I don't even care about the butt fat because Mike likes it. If you want to dispense it to my bony shoulders so maybe I could grow some muscle there that would be just fine. Or my toes, I don't care if they are big. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

aj

p.s. Sorry for the bad turkey I fed you last night

Ageing and Bargain Shopping

2009-04-19T10:12:00.004-04:00

Mike and I went to buy new running shoes yesterday. I really didn't plan on it since I don't have income coming in yet but what a deal we got! He bought Adidas and I bought New Balance. Both of them were $74.99, buy one get one 50% off and I had a 20% off coupon. So it ended up being around $60! He bought them so it didn't cost me a thing and my feet felt so much better on the treadmill this morning :)

I plan to grow old gracefully. I do things to try and prevent it like moisturize etc...and I have since my early 20's. I also use to be a tanning bed junkie and I know that didn't help the cause any. What got me thinking about this is I saw a movie last night and Helen Hunt is looking really old. Then I thought...well she is getting old. That is how you are suppose to age. No one in Hollywood looks like my grandma and that's not reality. I will do everything to keep my body healthy and protect my youthfulness but I will not go to extremes. That also reminds me that I got carded on the cruise ship! I was so happy :) I didn't even get any alcohol but they said you can't be in the club unless you're 21! HA!

Really, how would you like to be remembered? Growing old gracefully or doing anything you can and then turning yourself into a mess?

6 weeks out...maybe....

2009-04-18T09:58:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone! I've had a great week of weight loss! I lost 7.2 lbs in 5 days. This morning I weighed 119.2. I've looked back at the last shows and my weight at 6 weeks out has been.

115.0 - 2007 1st show
123.4 - 2008(attempt at 2nd)
117.2 - 2008 2nd show
114.4 - 2008 3rd show

So i'm gonna keep plugging away and see what happens. I said if I was 120.0 at 6 weeks out i'll give it a go so i'm going :) I'll send in my application for the show on 5/19/09. I'll know for sure if i'll be ready by then or not. I'm really not gung ho about this show to be honest with you. I mean I was on a freaking cruise at 8 weeks out for pete's sake. I'll do my best though...i'm not a quitter!

I feel great right now! My body is looking better and I don't have "carb face" LOL! Love that term ;) My ultimate goal is to be 115 and enjoy life. That doesn't mean I eat pizza etc...but that I can relax and eat a salad from a restaurant without feeling guilty. Yes, I told you all I have mental problems HA! I had it all figured out after my 2nd show last year. I was eating some treats on the weekends and still maintaining at 113. Then I did my show, gained to much after that, Thanksgiving came, Christmas, cold weather, you all get the point. Parts of me wonders what I can do with my physique if I do get to 115 and don't do the dry out and gain TONS of bloatedness after a show hmmmmm....that'll be my next journey.

Book Review and Loss

2009-04-16T08:26:00.004-04:00

I'm down 6 lbs since coming back from the cruise!!! WOO!

I am not a regular reader and I usually get bored half way through and lose interest. So at the airport I picked up "Where Are You Now?" by Mary Higgins Clark. I read it in 1 day! Now i'm reading "Hold Tight" by Harlan Coben and I can't put it down! I'm excited to see how it ends.

I sent in my application for IUPUI and it's a waiting game now. The prerequisites that I need to take are very common classes and since i'm behind on enrolling I'll find out in 6-8 weeks if I can take them. If not I will have to wait until next Spring to get started on my certificate...that would suck. I know by that time I will have another unsatisfying job because i'm impatient.

I loaded some pictures -------------------- to the right.

I'm back!

2009-04-13T09:06:00.004-04:00

Wow what an awesome time. Cruising is always awesome for us. This time our friend Brandon,his wife Tami and their daughter Kierra, Mike's parents and our oldest niece Chelsea went and we all had a blast. The weather was amazing and the ship was the best. Mike and I have been on that one before and we new we loved it. Now i'm back to reality. My unemployed life LOL! I'm going to IUPUI today to possibly enroll for the medical coding course.

Oh, 1 small detail you all are wondering i'm sure ;) I gained 4 lbs :) I'm proud of myself. Sure I overdid it a few times but considering I can gain 2 lbs in a day from just drinking water I think I did an excellent job!

I SAW A WHALE!! I'm talking a real one, sure I saw a bunch of whales on the ship..WOW! I was on the exercise bike and looking out at the ocean and saw it back come out of the water and then it's tail!! I yelled oh wow and look at my HR monitor and it shot way up LOL! Speaking of the bike....I never realized how good of a cardio you can get on that thing. Sure i've taken spin classes before but I was on it for an hour and drenches in sweat.

I'm not 100% sure about the show because I'll need to see how my body is doing. I don't feel like killing it right now. I'll admit it, it's hard work. I do want to get to 115 though so i'll be pushing as hard as ever!!

-----------------------------------
Okay now it's Tuesday and i'll actually post this this time. I weighed this morning and i'm down 3 lbs!! I'm still sodium logged though but that will go away.

I'll upload some pics soon and put them on my side bar.

Before Cruise Bloat

2009-04-03T15:08:00.006-04:00

To the left is me at 8 weeks out! YIKES! I'm gonna have some serious work to do when I get back. I'm hoping Tony has the miracle diet prepared LOL! The one on the right was taken 2-20-09. So I guess i've made some pretty good progress in that short time. Who else really eats 35,000 cals 8 weeks out from a show LOL! Oh boy, you'd think i'd of learned my lesson from last year...NEVER! I like to live on the wildside!

Hold on to your hats folks....this is gonna be a bumpy ride!!!

p.s. There is only a 2 lbs difference in these photos(note to self, quit letting the scale effect your mood).

Girl Crush

2009-04-03T07:04:00.004-04:00

I've always loved Ali Larter and now I see she has a new movie coming out! Looks like one of those "already been done" but i'll still see it if she's in it :)

Obsessed

Who Is My Competition?

2009-04-01T16:25:00.007-04:00

I had no clue that I could actually do this. This was by far the easiest yet hardest prep. Easy because my body was a fat burning machine. Hardest because I had no idea what to expect.

Oh boy, sodium load and deplete did NOT work for me. On another note, running on incline worked my bootay!

This is the leanest i've ever been. 28 days NO carb(only for the comp pic above). By that I mean 0! Not even lettuce. The nicest thing about this though is I didn't have to do much cardio. I also was lean when I started because of the September show. Note to self: Stay lean year round and preps aren't as stressful.

I'm in competition with myself. I'm doing this for no other goal than to feel my best and watch my body transform. Even if Monica Brant was doing this up coming show I would still do it.

Now the pressure is on because of my cruise. I keep mentioning that don't I? ;)

Changing It Up

2009-04-01T13:38:00.003-04:00

Man, today I woke up and I was bloated and gassy and it was odd. So instead of getting immeditately on the treadmill I decided to eat and do my "morning routine" so that my stomach would feel better. So now my day is all off schedule.

I did my chest workout at 8a, typically I do weights now at 1p. This means my PWO shake is off and now my eating is off LOL! This is something that would have freaked me out a few weeks ago but pfft...who cares. I took Boomer on a walk today. I planned on 3 miles but only got 2 because I had to pee. So now i'll take her for another one since the weather is AWESOME today.

Instead of getting on the treadmill I popped in a Cathe DVD. I don't have the luxury of changing up cardio equipment since a treadmill is all I own. I do have TONS of step tapes though. WOW! What a workout! It was a nice change of pace and I think I burned more calories doing it. I had my HRM on but I think the battery is dying and it doesn't work as well. I've worn that thing out HA!

Now i'm going to my mom's around 4p and doing more aerobics...it's fun with her :) Tonight i'll do even MORE cardio watching ANTM. It seems like a lot but I feel guilty just watching TV so if i'm on the treadmill while doing it then i'll feel better.

I'm really trying to mentally prep myself that a cruise DOES NOT mean go on a wild eating spree. I really need to do what I did in '07. I ate but not like I did last year. I'm trying to focus on relaxation, warm weather, and just the movement and sound of the ocean ahhh..can't wait. At the same time i'm freaked out! I'm still a mental case about my weight and body.

Itinerary

2009-03-30T20:38:00.004-04:00

In case you're wondering where i'll be ;)

Itinerary
Port Arrival Departure
4/5 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 5:00 PM
4/6 Princess Cays, Bahamas 9:00 AM 4:00 PM (2nd B-day) :)
4/7 At Sea
4/8 St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
4/9 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 7:00 AM 4:00 PM
4/10 Grand Turk 1:00 PM 7:00 PM
4/11 At Sea
4/12 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 7:00 AM (Fun is over)

Port arrival and departure times are approximate and subject to change without notice. For more information review the Passage Contract.

7 more days!

2009-03-30T06:52:00.004-04:00

I can't wait to be on the ocean! Warm weather, beaches and sunburns! My husband really needs a vacation poor guy.

I had a great massage and my legs felt so much better until I tortured them over the weekend :)

I'm meeting up with a friend at Starbucks this afternoon. I haven't seen her in forever and we were together 24/7 in High School. We are both goobers and had so much fun together so this will be a nice reunion. She is one of those friends that I can not see in 10 years and when we get together it will be like we were never apart.

Diet and workouts are going great! I'm feeling leaner and that's always a nice feeling. I will try and take pics later this week to do a before and after cruise body! EEK! There is nothing like running on a treadmill looking out at the ocean though ahhhh...can't wait!

----------------------------------------------------------

Relaxation Station

2009-03-27T07:44:00.003-04:00

I woke up this morning and weighed in...119.8! I'll be feeling good about my massage i'm getting today now. My goal was once I get under 120 to get it but my legs told me otherwise. Well now I hit my goal and DESERVE it!! My next victory will be 115! I'm not sure how long or how much torture it will take me to get to that one? I WILL get there though. Once i'm there that is where I want to stay. I can LIVE at that weight and feel good about myself. Sure i'm gonna get to 105(or so I hope) for my comp but for everyday life 115 is for me.

It's funny how long it takes my body to lose 5 lbs and we'll see how easy it is to gain it right back!

I was on the treadmill for 1 hour yesterday and think I went 4.5 miles. I was just looking at my husbands gps watch and he did 7 miles in 50 mins. I am SO not a runner.

9 more days until tropical muscic, weather and the ocean!!!

We're trying to sell our house again. We put it on the market Monday and have someone coming to look at it tonight! Wish us luck! One of my workouts will be cleaning the heck out of it today LOL! We're trying to move about 40 mins north of here because Mike's office is moving. I'm sad though because I live 2 mins from my mommy :( Like i've said though, as long as he's supporting my azz i'll follow!

Ground Hog Day

2009-03-26T10:12:00.003-04:00

The same thing every day. I think this cartoon is WHY I need to do it though. When there is variety I tend to go overboard. Like on a cruise EEK! 10 days WOO! I'm trying not to think about the food too much. When I got back from the cruise last year my weight was 127 and I dropped 4 lbs in that following week so I know most was sodium and water bloat.

Back to eating. I love eating to nourish my body and not because it tastes good and I just want more. Mike and I were talking about protein powders last night. I'm almost out of my Optimum Nutrition and will be buying Body Fortess because it's cheaper. He was telling me the ON tastes nasty and he will stick with Syntha 6. I told him I don't eat for the taste. I have to keep telling myself because I really love the taste of chocolate ;)

I went ahead and booked my massage for tomorrow. I'm at 120.2 but my legs hurt and I need it! I'm still taking superpump too and that could be making me hold some weight?? I don't care right now though because my workouts are AWESOME with the blue juice :)

Deep Thoughts....by April Jones

2009-03-25T06:36:00.003-04:00

Who am I? I am the old April I use to be. I'm am happy again. Sure not having a job is part of that right now but i'm looking forward to my future once again! Mike and I have always talked about retirement and he really wanted me to stay at my old job because then we could retire early. I was miserable there. I hated every second I was there and it showed in the person I had become. I never had the guts to quit or make a move because I didn't want to disappoint his dreams. I knew that my job was on the line and asked that people pray for me and things would be okay. In my mind the okay thing was that my job would remain and that I would continue my robot like schedule. God works in mysterious ways and all the prayers worked but not how I had envisioned. I would have never quit, he eliminated my position, I never knew what I wanted to do in life, he opened my eyes to the behind the scenes medical field that I never knew existed. I feel like a new woman! I've even started putting on makeup and fixing my hair!

I use to think I was unhappy because of my weight. That was SO not the case. After losing 20 lbs and competing and having my dreambody I was still unhappy. I think I was almost in depression and now I feel like a weight has been lifted. I am back to happy go lucky April once again! My glass is half full and people don't get on my nerves as much anymore. I even went to Target at noon yesterday when the parking lot was full LOL!

Since i've been doing alot of soul searching I have realized how important my family and friends are to me. This past week i've seen every member of my family and it has been terrific! I even went and did aerobics with my mom last night which is something I would have never done before because I felt like I didn't have the time. My focus was to get my 8 hours over with and then home to workout. After that I never felt like leaving the house again.

All this brings me to my definition in the dictionary. As much as I LOVE being in figure competitions that does not define me. I don't want my definition to be the girl who was in figure competitions, lived her robotic life, never socialized and obsessed with her weight.

Here is what I want:
April Jones-the girl who's smile lights up the room, who is pleasant to be around, who loves health and fitness, and who obsesses about her weight.(some things you just can't change)

Volunteering

2009-03-23T07:33:00.003-04:00

So i'm getting bored at home so I signed up for volunteering at the hospital in Franklin Indiana. I figure it will look good on my resume since I have zero hospital experience and I'm pursuing the medical coding thing. Here is the list of things I can help with :) VOLUNTEER WORK

I feel weird. I hate being dependent on my husband. I'm not 100% dependent YET...that time is coming. We have always kept our money seperate and it's worked great that way. I know eventually, unless I find an under the table job, I will have to give up some things I do not want to. I mean if roles were reversed and i'm thinking better these days without my stupid stressful job that I would not pay for parts for his Corvette or Harley. I would not pay for him to go golfing or skiing so it's obvious that he's not gonna keep buying my supplements etc. I know though that once my school is done I will be doing something that keeps me happy and then I can go back to all my old ways.

That leads me into my old ways. I wasted alot of money. I am just now realizing this. I made really good money and I wasted most of it. It's sort of sad. My reasoning was I hated my job so as long as I worked there I was gonna TRY and make myself happy by spending it. I've only been unemployed for 2 weeks and it's really helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I didn't go to Target just to spend $150 and I didn't miss it either. I went there to get almonds and that's it. I have to get the 100 cal pk kind or else April's serving size is about 50 almonds LOL!

So i'm going to enjoy my time right now with my family and dog. I'm looking at ways to cut grocery cost etc...and i'm actually having a blast doing it! There goes my new running shoe purchase every month LOL!

Twins

2009-03-19T12:13:00.002-04:00

Jodi sent this to me LOL! She asked "Who does this look like"? BTW Happy B-day Jodi!

It's me with boobs LOL!

My weight this morning was 120.6 ahhh...hopefully i'll be below 120 by next week. If I make it i'll be rewarding myself with a nice massage!!

Feeling Great!

2009-03-18T07:52:00.002-04:00

I went and shadowed a medical coder yesterday afternoon. This is the job for me. It keeps my interest and the time flew by. It was like being in the ER without all the blood etc...I need to call IUPUI a local college here and set up a meeting with a counselor and see what I need to do about getting in class. Hopefully I can take some classes this summer. I'm just really glad I liked it and now I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

Being off work has been great this week! The weather is awesome and I get to spend quality time with my mom and dog :)

Workouts are AMAZING right now! I'm not rushing them because I have all the time in the world! My weight was at 121.4 this morning. It's been holding steady at 121 for the last 3 weeks or so. I'm going to drop a supplement i've been taking at the end of the week so i'll see if that helps with water drop or not.

I'm gonna have a lot of work to do after the cruise but i'm up for it! Unless I get back and i'm weighing like 130 or something LOL!

Measurements

2009-03-16T07:05:00.003-04:00

I felt like my thighs were really fat this morning so I measured them. It use to be my butt but that's under control now??

They are 22" and on contest day they are 18.5-19" and look like twigs to me. My waist right now is 25.5" and on contest day it's 23.5". Last year at this time my waist got to 27" and I was freaking out.

I am feeling MUCH better and got up and on the treadmill this morning. Yes, i'm back to my old self finally. I was worried for a bit. I thought maybe I felt like that because I was depressed about being jobless for the first time since I was 16. Now I know it was just because I was sick. Not much planned for today. I'm going to visit my grandparents now since i'm not sick and take my dog for walk in the park. Life it rough LOL!

Keeping Up With the Joneses'

2009-03-14T08:32:00.005-04:00

Well that won't be hard to do considering i'm jobless now LOL! To top it all off i'm 11 weeks out and i'm freaking sick! I haven't been able to do cardio like i've wanted and I have all day to do it now! I'm just resting and trying to get better. I've been really dizzy like I have vertigo. The best part...no insurance! I wouldn't go to the doctor anyway but doesn't it always happen like that? I went to work yesterday to fill out my pension papers. When I was leaving my boss ran up to me and I thought he was going to ask me a work question which I would NOT answer. He asked if there was anything I need off my computer *light bulb*. Angela, Stacey, and Tina have all seen my weightloss spreadsheet and i'm a freak about it so I told him to send it to me and he did LOL! WOO!

My desk looked sad when I walked by. My 2 employee of the month trophies were still on it and he asked me if I wanted them and I said no :) Mike asked me if they called in 2 weeks and asked if I wanted to come back would I...H-E-Double hockey stick NO! This is my chance to renew myself and maybe become a better person. Sure the money was good but I was miserable there. I learned that they just canned the nurse and an engineer who was there for 25 years so I guess it's good that I got my severance etc..before they go bankrupt.

Luckily Mike has a great job and can support us both. We will be getting insurance through his work now. My insurance was WAY cheap though but oh well. I had to remind him of when we first met and he only made $7 an hour and we made it. I was the bread winner then :) He said oh does this mean we'll get to eat hot dogs and macaroni again!! LOL! That was answered with a stern NO.

Back to the sickness. I'm 11 weeks out people and I have felt like crapola! Ugh....I just want to workout. I have so much time now and I can't do jack! I've been sleeping on the couch because my snoring is ridiculous. I even wake up and hear myself! It's alright though i'll be back at it and with vengeance!!

Free Bird

2009-03-10T08:17:00.004-04:00

Well the inevitable happened...laid off. I'm filled with mixed emotions about it. A big part of me is relieved it finally happened and the other part is thinking what do I do next? Right now i'm on vacation until the cruise Woo! I get 2 more paychecks, vacation pay, my severance, and my pension so I should be okay for a bit.

My husband is supporting me in going back to school and getting a degree is something new. I have a travel and hospitality certificate and an assoicate's in business. I'm not interested in either of those. I'm thinking medical coding or criminal justice LOL! I'm sure i'll go with the medical but doesn't everyone want to be a CSI agent ;) I just want to go to a school where I get my degree FAST and get a job FAST. My husband on the other hand is talking to his mom who thinks things should be done slow and that i'm trained properly and then I get a better job. Well you know how you live and learn and i've learned that listening to older people is the way to go. So i'll keep you all posted on what's happening. If you have a job and love it feel free to chyme in your opinions please! I know Em loves hers but I don't think I could do the massage thing. Training is not an interest of mine either. I have thought of the nutrition field but really medical will always be around unless Obama screws up more.

I did get up and get my early cardio in this morning. I'm gonna do my best to keep Tony around. I may not be able to compete as much as I would have liked to this year but we'll just see what happens.

To make things worse my Grandpa Bailey has cancer. He's 83 and my mom, aunt and uncles have decided just to let him live his life without treatments. He is an active older man and being couped up in a hospital during the spring and summer would not be his thing. Plus, my Grandpa Hommel has been in and out of the hospital this past week as well. He's getting dillusional and sees things. It's sort of funny really but then again it's not. He's 97 though!!! Life sucks sometimes but you just keep on going.

I think everything happens for a reason and God will do what he wants with me.

I'm pissed

2009-03-08T10:25:00.003-04:00

My favorite picture from the Arnold will not show up. It was me and the Metrx box. He is the best. I got 9 free pkts of him at the show also. All my other pics show just fine.

Anyway...I had a GREAT time! It was so awesome. I got to meet up with Stef, Hayley, Kellie, Stacey, Tina, Chris and Tracy. I missed Ruby but heard she was there LOL! Angela and I went looking around but didn't see anyone who was tall and gorgeous as Stef described her.

I have seen Pro's in person but not on the competition stage OMG!! I can't believe how great they ALL look! They are just amazing!

I can't wait for next years Arnold already! I ate WAY too many protein bar samples but I only eat them once out of the year so I won't dwell on it.

Well he's not the Metrx box but it's the next best thing.

6666

2009-03-04T17:34:00.002-05:00

My car is gonna hit 6666 miles during my road trip with Angela tomorrow WOOT! This is gonna be so much fun! I'm going to print my ab workout for tomorrow and we're gonna do abs in our room :) That way we won't miss a workout! Our last trip was fun but now we'll be more relaxed because we can actually drink water. Plus we won't only have to eat dry ass chicken with flax oil LOL! Good times ahead people...stay tuned!

Thanks!

2009-02-28T20:24:00.002-05:00

Thanks for your comments it really helped my mental jack out :) I ate the chili today and it was YUMMY! I didn't overdo it...1 bowl and I pased on the cake. I know my body and sugar is a KILLER! The chili was a "healthier" cheat IMO. It wasn't pizza or donuts ;) I am not going out with my hubby tonight though. I told him baby steps...

I am 13 weeks out! I've really been pushing myself earlier this year and NO bulking. I'm gonna do my best to get lean before the cruise so that the May 30th show won't be iffy like last year. If I come back from the cruise 1 lb over 120 i'm not doing the show. For my husband's mind and my body I think it's best. I'm not going through what I did last year.

With that being said...game on!

Hey!

2009-02-24T17:40:00.002-05:00

Things are still going good here! Diet and cario and sleep....what else is there? I still feel fat though, can't wait for that to be over with.

I'm freaking out right now because Saturday we're going to Mike's parents to do our taxes. She is making chili. I hate to bring my own lunch but I guess I'll have to. It gets worse though. Mike's b-day is Friday, his friends are having a party for him Saturday night. You all know i'm a hermit and would rather just stay at home where it's safe from bad food and my meals are prepared. Not to mention I can do cardio whenever I want. How pathetic is that? How stupid do I sound? Sure in order to be a competitor you have to do things in life that most don't but seriously...this is NOT my life. I use to be fun and not worry but now it's just getting almost mental! Okay, my rant is over.

8 more days baby!! I can't wait to see Angela, Tina and Stacey again! I also can't wait to meet many of you and see Pauline Nordin in person! Seeing Monica, Jamie, Alison E, and Valerie W in person last year was just amazing! Angela and I were just in awe. That's the reason I want to stay home Saturday LOL!

Post your answers :)

2009-02-21T10:19:00.001-05:00

I always find these interesting lol. Copy it and post your answers in comments!

1. Can you cook?
2. What was your dream growing up?
3. What talent do you wish you had?
4. Favorite place?
5. Favorite vegetable?
6. What was the last book you read?
7. What zodiac sign are you ?
8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?
9. Worst Habit?
10. Do we know each other outside of blogging?
11. What is your favorite sport?
12. Negative or Optimistic attitude?
13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
14. Worst thing to ever happen to you?
15. Tell me one weird fact about you:
16. Do you have any pets?
17. Do you know how to do the macarena?
18. What time is it where you are now?
19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
22. What color eyes do you have?
23. Ever been arrested?
24. Favorite fictional character of all time?
25. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it?
26. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
27. What’s your favorite hangout?
28. Do you believe in ghosts?
29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
30. Do you swear a lot?
31. Biggest pet peeve?
32. In one word, how would you describe yourself?
33. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

Weekend Recap

2009-02-18T14:18:00.003-05:00

I had an awesome Valentine's Day! We saw the movie Taken and it was AWESOME, then we went and ate at Bonefish Grill. I had the ahi tuna and broccoli like a good girl :) They gave us a bar of Lindt Chocolate but Mike snatched it up LOL! Then Sunday came. Boy was I moody. I did go and visit my family though which was a plus but I was just feeling fat. No one understands me when I get this way. I know a lot of you on here will know the EXACT feeling. Here I am 120 lbs and feeling like a whale? I seriously have mental issues with weight. Always have and i'm afraid I always will. Before I went to visit my mom she asked me to get her some carrots. When I put them on her counter I saw a "7 day soup diet" which is what she needed the carrots for. It was then that I realized I must have watched my mom and aunt diet when I was younger and it's embedded into my brain.

Once I hired Tony I thought all of that was changing. I mean I was eating right and becoming a happier person. Now though I know what I CAN look like even if it's not realistic. I do want to be 115 lbs...that's where I need to be ALL the time. No more people telling 120 is a healhty weight for me...I feel fat and don't like it.

I know it's not an everyday look but dang...why can't I remember being this thin?

Friday the 13th

2009-02-13T17:35:00.003-05:00

Just because I need to laugh.....

I had back with running intervals today. My husband had to pump me up for the ending cardio because I just wasn't into it?? That is SO unlike me. I lost 2 lbs this week and i'm STARVING! I eat and then i'm STARVING. I've done this long enough to know the difference between boredom and the feeling of your stomach eating your spine?? Hopefully it's the metabolism kicking in? I am eating plenty!

I cannot wait for V-day tomorrow! My husband and I have a couple of dates :) I NEVER do anything anymore. I'm not gonna cheat though. I'm having tuna and broccoli from Bonefish Grill. I plan on taking the WHOLE day off from workouts.

I can't believe the Aronld is almost here! Ugh..that means so is inventory. That is my job and it SUCKS! The way the economy is going though it might not be before long.

I'm Neutral

2009-02-11T16:10:00.004-05:00

Which American accent do you have?

Neutral

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

You're not Northern, Southern, or Western, you`re just plain -American-. Your national identity is more important than your local identity, because you don`t really have a local identity. You might be from the region in that map, which is defined by this kind of accent, but you could easily not be. Or maybe you just moved around a lot growing up
Sweet, that pretty much sums it up! My hubs always makes fun of my mom's accent. He says she says cold, coat, code all the same, oh and the Colt's ;) My grandma, boy she is from Kentucky and i'm talking the sticks. He still doesn't understand her and i'm not sure I even do sometimes.

I had a ho hum leg workout tonight. TOM is trying to arrive ugh....not an excuse it just is. My weight is down 2 lbs from last week though, felt thinner this morning so I had to weigh. That's even with Aunt Flo about to show! So, my next weigh in will be probably next Thursday. It's just a good weigh for me to keep in check ;)

I must, I must...

2009-02-10T17:37:00.003-05:00

I must increase my bust! I know,I know,I know that they will grow! My cousin, sister and I use to chant this when we were little. It REALLY worked for them. I was chanting it during my chest workout tonight. I can honestly say that I have some man pecs! My hubs is jealous :) I LOVE to work chest! I can see striations and veins since I obviously don't have any fat there. I also love to work abs for that same reason!

I'm having a good day. I feel lighter and my eating and workouts have been awesome so I know something good has to be happening. My morning cardios have been THE bomb!!!

I WILL be going out this weekend for Valentine's Day. It's not a cheat, ahi tuna and steamed broccoli. I can't wait! We're also going to see Taken...I heard it's really good? I love dates!

Full Steam Ahead!

2009-02-09T18:59:00.004-05:00

I had an AWESOME early cardio session this morning. I'm anxious to get up and do it again! Worked shoulders tonight...did shrugs but with light weights ;) I was feeling REALLY lean yesterday, today not so much. Oh well, we all have those days. I have a little less than 8 weeks before my cruise! I would love to lose 10 lbs but realistically not sure if that's possible. I think an easy to maintain and healthy weight for me would be 115. That gives me a little wiggle room :) I still haven't weighed since last Tuesday and it makes me less stressed about things. When the time comes I know I can drop the numbers but really who cares about them? I know Monica Brant doesn't weigh 107 and I would LOVE to look like her!

2 days!

2009-02-05T17:30:00.002-05:00

I haven't weighed in 2 days :) The scale has not been my friend lately. I'm eating exactly what is written on paper. Okay, not really. I get a TBSP of almond butter but i've talked with Tony about that. I know that would not be possible. I would eat the entire jar in 1 sitting. Instead I buy individual portions of almonds and that way i'm okay.

My workouts have been AWESOME! The carido I do in the mornings are intense and just when I feel like quitting I don't...I continue, i'm a badass!

So why am I gaining weight? This is the frustrating part. Is the food I ate during Christmas just now going through my system or what? I'm trying to not let it bother me. I feel fine today since I didn't weigh this morning ;) I'm still wearing my 4's although they aren't fitting as nicely. Don't worry, my shirts are big so there is not a noticeable muffin top.

So that's my wrap up this week. The scale sucks, muscles don't!

Why am I freaking out that Mike and I are going out to eat for Valentines Day?? I really have issues. We are going to Bonefish Grill! I love fish :)

I'll leave you with this...why I keep going. I've only just begun, I will get there some day(without boobs).

In Love...

2009-02-02T17:45:00.002-05:00

With this website. I will probably never make anything from it but it sure is fun to think about!

I got a new meal plan on Saturday. I've been on it for 2 days and i've gained weight?? I'm not gonna get discouraged though. My body was without carbs for a LONG time so it's probably thinking WTF! It had enough carbs during Thanksgiving and Christmas to last for months and months though ;)

My workouts have been awesome! It's amazing what a 15 lb weight gain does for your strength :) Now that i'm 100% healed up my cardio are kick ass again so hopefully i'll start shedding some lbs. My cruise is right around the corner YIKES!

FFF the snow!

2009-01-29T17:29:00.002-05:00

So my morning started off getting stuck in my driveway grrr...The stupid plow that finally came at 9p at night piled snow up on it. So here comes my husband, who had to wake up, to push me out. Acting all pissy and stuff. Okay boy i've been up for an hour and a half, ran 3.3 miles, and am getting ready to drive to work the last place I wanna be. He gets to work from home...poor guy. He proceeds to push my car which isn't budging one bit. He tells me to get the F out of the car. Like him pushing the gas pedal is any different from what i'm doing?? Nothing happens. So I proceed to push the car, yep you guessed it....pushed it right into the street! So i'm crying because he cussed at me and get in my car and said he's just mad that i'm stronger than him.

He emails me from work like nothing happened. I told him he made me cry...you all know how hard that is. He said he was tired and doesn't remember it. So at lunch he came and picked me up and brought Boomer too to make my day :) Then when I get home I have these with a cute made from scratch:

He also said he is going to rub my feet for a long time tonight YIPPEE!

I'm getting a new meal plan and workout regimen from Tony! I just might have my mojo back!

Feeling Funky

2009-01-26T18:59:00.003-05:00

So i've been on no carb for 26 days now and i've been a rockstar! Except for that Wheat Thin day but it was Drs. orders right? Yesterday I was STARVING all day long! I even tried to stay in bed just so I wouldn't eat anything! Thank goodness I don't keep crap in the house or I might have eaten it. I did resist the yummy chocolate cake at my sister's b-day party though. So I had 1/2 cup of oats last night. They were so good! I haven't had them in so long LOL! My weight is staying the same and it's getting annoying.

The Arnold is getting so close! I'm so excited! We still need to get our expo tickets and the tickets to watch the show that the other diva duo will be in :) The weekend before is inventory at work YUCK! If i'm still employed there ;) WOO!

30 Years Young!

2009-01-25T07:19:00.003-05:00

You know you're old when your little sister is turning 30!! Happy B-day Rachel :D

I had a great time yesterday at the mall with Jodi :) Thanks for the peppermint coffee it's the BOMB!!! I didn't feel like trying on clothes since i'm fluffy so I got a hat and hair accessories instead.

Oh another reason i'm not trying on clothes is I took a 5% paycut yesterday grrr....I'm still employed though so I guess I should be thankful for that?? I'm thinking of going back to school for medical coding. Mike's mom does that and LOVES it! Plus that's a job that will always be needed no matter what the economy is going through. I went through this crap in 2000 also. Should have got out then.

My workouts have been sporadic lately in strength. Shoulder day went well, chest day ROCKED, legs pathetic, bicep same and today i'm doing triceps. I love when I don't have bi's and tri's together.

So i'm venturing off to my sister's b-day party this afternoon. I don't need to tell you all i'm not having cake...you know me by now ;)

Protect Your Fur Babies!

2009-01-23T06:03:00.002-05:00

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/01/21/Peanut_butter_recall_includes_dog_treats/UPI-92211232559938/

Peanut Butter in pet treats!!

I saw this on the news this morning. Dogs and cats don't watch the news so we have to protect them!

Disclaimer

2009-01-20T05:55:00.007-05:00

LOL! I almost put a disclaimer on my post ***this is not me. Come on guys, now if it were Stacey posting that pic maybe but it's ME posting it ;)

Erik, how did you know? Just joking :)

It is Noel Clark! WOO! She's HOT!

I envisioned my shoulders looking like hers when I was working out.

Good eye Jodi, that's why you have a criminial justice degree.

Workin IT!!!

2009-01-19T18:03:00.003-05:00

I had a GREAT workout today! It started off with 25 mins of light cardio this morning. Then tonight I had shoulders and then during my ending cardio I bumped it up a bit. It felt GREAT!

I just made my husbands dinner though and I had a bite of baked beans. That's it though I just wanted the taste ;) Since i'm NOT trying to put on muscle I need to start doing some more cardio to get this fluff off. I'll rephrase that, i'm always wanting more muscle but i'm not going to eat a surplus to get it.

Tomorrow morning i'm going to do more cardio. I just love how I feel the rest of the day while doing it.

The nurse from the hospital called me today. She asked how "the healthy" patient was doing. The other nurses were jealous because they had to deal with old people LOL! I'm doing fine and i'm not uncomfortable at all anymore!

Oh yeah, during my shrugs tonight I pulled something in my neck! I had read Latgirls post to so I should have been warned but NO...I did them and now I have a kink in my neck. I think i'm going to let Tony know that I don't want to do these anymore. Let's face it, i'm never going to be She-ra so I don't think my body will miss them.

Stir Crazy

2009-01-18T15:57:00.003-05:00

My goodness i'm going crazy! I HATE not being able to do what I want. I just want to go for a long run! At least a short walk would be nice. I'm REALLY just taking it easy this weekend. I need to heal and i'm doing better today because I rested yesterday. I just have to remind myself that this is the best thing for my body right now and i'm not going to gain 10 lbs overnight. Mike even told me today that since I NEVER rest this is what my body really needs especially right now. I know he's right so i'm really trying not to go upstairs right now and get on my treadmill grrrrr...you better believe at 4:30a tomorrow morning though i'm hopping on it :D

My work isn't going to great right now. We are REALLY slow and trying everything to cut cost including chopping heads off. Someone from my dept was let go last week. That could have been me. So far Gods plan for me is to stay there but I almost want it to be me so that I get off my butt and find a job that makes me happy. Is there such a thing?

Mom and I went and saw Bride Wars today. I give it an A! I love Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway so that made it more enjoyable. I admit I even had some tears in my eyes :)

It's About That Time

2009-01-17T09:53:00.003-05:00

When I was in the hospital room Thursday the nurse came in to hook my IV up. She looked at me and said oh great, it's hard to find a vein on you redheads. I've never heard that one. She looked at my arms and said which one do you want it in? I said well I have an IV scar on my right arm so put it in the left and see if I can get another. She wrapped the rubberband around my arm and was amazed at my vein :) I said I workout LOL! I was happy about the veins especially since i'm not taking supps right now.

So it's about that time that my husband will start to workout and eat better because the cruise is almost here. This time of year I get pissed because i'm constantly staying busy, eating clean and getting chubby?? Doesn't make sense. Then he just cuts out his mayonnaise and loses 10 lbs grrrr....

I'm going crazy not doing any cardio. Last night I did my back workout and it flew by since there wasn't any ending cardio segment. Today i'm going to do my bi/tri/abs and not do cardio just to heal some more. I was in the store this morning and felt like I was gonna pass out. I couldn't sleep for anything last night. I even took 2 of my pain killers because they normally make me feel all good and sleepy but nothing this time. Boomer and I just tried to take a nap and I still couldnt' sleep. Now i'm gonna go lay on the couch like a blob and eat bon bons. Just kidding, however I am gonna go lay on the couch like a blob.

Thanks Guys!

2009-01-16T09:11:00.002-05:00

Thanks for the well wishes and prayers they worked! I'm at home and feeling fine. I have some discomfort when I pee but that's about it. Yesterday's diet was AWFUL! I had an entire box of Wheat Thins and a cup of Jello. That was on the Drs. diet ;) So today i'm back to Tony's diet and feeling MUCH better. I tried to do a bit of cardio. Just a walk on an incline and 17 mins into it I had to stop. So I better rest so I can really heal up.

With the windchill today it's -30 degrees here EEK! Guess who is out of food? No not me, that would never happen. My little girl...i'm a bad mommy :) So we're gonna go to PetSmart in a bit.

Thanks again! You guys are the best!

TOM got the best of me

2009-01-14T14:32:00.002-05:00

Man, I hate blogging when i'm depressed but I need to remember these times. I'm not really depressed just feeling like a bloated blob and to make matters worse the surgery is tomorrow! I ate 7 peanut M&M's today, more than my ounce allowance of almonds, and work is getting so bad that they even took away the water coolers today!! I'm not going to continue on a downward spiral though, no sir! I just want to get this dang surgery over with, heal and then be gung ho!

Yesterday there was brownies, muffins and mexican food and I didn't even look at it. Okay that's a lie I looked at it and watched everyone feed their fat faces. I am so strong and times and then today I freaking ate those damn M&M's. Oh well, i'm not going to dwell on that. Tonight Mike, Mom, Sis and I are going to go eat at Applebee's :) I may see if my dad wants to come too. I'm going to eat the tilapia and double broccoli mmmm....that may be my last meal for awhile. I can't eat or drink anything after midnight and I have to be at the hospital at 5:30a. I can't wait to start taking my supplements again!!!!

I'll let you guys know how things went Sat or Sun. Thanks Jessica for your wise words on my last post :)

It Finally Happened

2009-01-11T07:44:00.002-05:00

TOM has arrived. I have not had it since June or July. I'm actually glad it's here because my weight is above 115 and i'm not doing much cardio so it's natural that it would come back. Figures it comes back the week of my surgery ugh...

This explains a lot of things though, why i've been REALLY grumpy, why I felt like crying for no reason and why i've been wanting CHOCOLATE!!! Good thing the diet i'm on doesn't allow for many carbs or M&M's would be hopping into my mouth ;)

Yesterday I did some extra cardio because i'm starting to think my body isn't going to lose being 100% on my diet. I just get these thoughts in my head that i'll start hardcore after my surgery because there is no need to do that much since i'll be out for a few days. In reality I should just do it now and actually rest for a few days. I NEVER rest so it'll probably be good for me.

Okay that's enough blabbing.

Are You Serious?

2009-01-07T17:22:00.000-05:00

I went to Walmart today and the lady in front of me was buying 2 boxes of Special K, 3 boxes of their protein bars and protein waters. Are you serious? Evidentally she saw that commercial to lose 6 lbs in 2 weeks. The bad part is she wasn't even overweight. Of course who am I to judge? Before I found Tony I was doing the same things.

So one of my fitness goals is to work a booth at the Aronld. This was a goal before I became a member of Tight Curves. So now I actually have a shot at it but I don't want to do it?? I think hanging out with Angela, Stacey and Tina would be much more rewarding :) Plus Angela and I have already made plans for Starbucks on the drive there ;)

Dream Teen

2009-01-03T09:41:00.000-05:00

I got Tony's newsletter this week and it REALLY spoke to me. It's about teens and the obesity problem amongst them. I wasn't obese per se but I was very uneducated. Watching my family yo-yo diet and starve themselves became a common thing around me. At the age of 14 is when I remember starting my roller coaster. I use to workout like mad and eat nothing. Or I would eat bread and rice because they didn't have fat in them. I bet many of you can relate. I had no one to teach me about nutrition. As I got older I educated myself but that's just it. I really didn't KNOW what I was doing. Sure I wasn't eating out and I was starting to eat vegetables but it wasn't until I got Tony's diet that the lightbulb came on.

I think back to how unhappy and how unconfident I was with my body. If only I knew the nutrition aspect of the equation I may have had happier years. There wasn't the awareness that there is now about how unhealthy certain foods are. Or is it just that since i'm aware I think others should be? There are still clueless people who don't know they are eating bad.

For ex. My husband went to On the Border last week. He told me he was good and ate the fish tacos. I then looked up the nutrition on them. Fish Tacos So he thought he was doing well but look at the fat in that thing!

He lives with me and hears me preach about eating etc...so this just goes to show you how uneducated people still are.

I think Dream Teen is an excellent idea and I support this 100% If you know someone who could use this please email Tony. Trust me I wish I would have had something like this when I was younger. It's up to us adults to help out the children and teens of the world.

Do you know a teenager who may be obese?

Have youth struggling with weight issues in your family?

The teenage obesity problem has now been labeled an "epidempic"!

One recent study stated that over 9 million kids from age 6 to age 19 are overweight and they are highly likely to develop diabetes, heart disease and a host of weight-related health issues that could become life-threatening!

The following is probably the scariest of all.

One recent study declared that we are the first generation in the history of our nation who may see our own children die before we do as a result of obesity.

When must take responsibility for our part in all of this.

Listen, the kids don't learn to dip their french fries in honey mustard from the TV...they watch us.

I'm very concerned about our youth and DreamBodies will be taking a hands-on approach here in New York and also around the World with our Dream Teens Fitness programs and resources.

We will be offering a lot of these resources FREE of charge.

The first resource to be given away starts today.

We will give away the following book to those requesting it:

"Guide to Help Teenagers Lose Weight"

In this book:
What are the psychological issues for overweight teens? In this chapter, you'll learn all about the mental issues that need to be considered. To your teen, the weight may not even be a thought...which makes this an even more difficult situation to approach. Do you know how best to handle it?

How do you go about parenting an overweight teen without creating more problems? Sometimes, saying, or doing the wrong thing could make matters worse. It takes just the right amount of parenting to handle this delicate situation.

Also...
How can teens lose weight safely and quickly?We'll reveal the safest, and fastest ways for a teen to lose weight quickly. One thing you never want to do, is to jump on one of the "fad" diets. The actual best way may be surprising...

How worried should you, as a parent, be about your teens weight? It's normal, and appropriate for a parent to worry about their teen being overweight. But just how worried should you be? We'll break it down, and reveal the best course of action.

And a lot more!

This book is FREE and the ONLY thing we ask is that you send a personal email to us requesting it and forward this newsletter to family and friends to help us all bring awareness, and also to pass along the resources.

We are handling requests on a first come, first serve basis.

Send your request to: info@dreambodies.net
Please put "Free Teen Book" in the subject heading of the email and supply the email address where you would like the ebook sent.

Once again, please keep in mind that all requests will be serviced on a first come, first serve basis.

Let's lead by example! My Amazing Body and Health!

New Year...New You????
New Year, New You!!

Sincerely,

Tony

Sincerely,

Tony DiCostanzo
DreamBodies Body Transformation Systems

Game On!

2009-01-02T11:08:00.000-05:00

I'm back! My mindset is solid and I am in control! Last night I went to my mom's for pot roast, carrots and potatoes. I willingly ate my fish and asparagus :) This wasn't actually on my plan but shoot me. I had bought some asparagus for $1.47 per lb and i'm not letting it go to waste ;)

I want my butt to look like that! I love the way my butt is right now actually. It's bigger and round and I feel like a girl. The only problem is that my love handles are bigger too ugh...I have FFS as Em would call it :) Fat Face Syndrome. My mom says I look healthier with a chubby face. So mom are you calling me chubby? I know that's not it at all but in my whacked out mind that is what I hear.

I have been talking to myself and reminding myself that it was the holidays and I needed to relax and be with family. That is true but no one put all the fudge and cookies in my mouth! Each year I get better at this lifestyle and learn new things and strategies. So April if you are reading this next year YES it's okay to indulge but there is a limit. You don't need to eat 8 cookies in one sitting just because you won't have them for awhile!!!

60 more days until the Arnold! WOO! Game is on for me! I'm on my new diet and I WILL start doing more cardio. This past week i've not been doing any only what is at the end of my workouts. Of course i'll be bed ridden for about 5-6 days after my surgery. I'm hoping for faster healing but i'm not planning on it. With my diet I should still be losing fat while being a blob in bed too.

2009 Is Here!

2009-01-01T10:46:00.000-05:00

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

I'm not sure what this year has in store for me, but I do know that I have 3 great friends that I can't wait to share it with! Let me not forget Jodi though ;) She is a friend that I could see at anytime though LOL!

I'm so glad that 2008 is over with. It was a REALLY bad year for my family. My sister is still living with my dad due to her house being destroyed by the flood. She is a lot stronger than I am though and she's really proven that. I'm very proud of her and her husband for dealing and getting through this together.

On the fitness front I started my new diet today WOO! I already feel tons better and I can't wait to see what a few weeks on the diet brings. Of course then i'll be laying in bed for a bit due to surgery ugh...

I QUIT......

2008-12-29T19:51:00.000-05:00

....all my supplements on the 1st that is. It's in preparation for my surgery on the 15th. Any nurses out there know why this is? I'm thinking it has something to do with blood clotting etc??

I'm doing great on my diet right now. I feel so much better. Although i've gained A LOT of fat. I'm not sure what the scale weight is and I don't care. All I know is i'm holding water like CRAZY. Okay maybe that's a cop out, i've eaten WAY too much fudge this Christmas. Last year I couldn't understand why I gained so much weight. I stuck to my bulking diet and was on some different supps so I figure that could be why. Now I KNOW it's the sweets I ate. Food wise I did great but chocolate and sugar wise...not so much :)

So it's on! The Arnold will be here before I know it! I don't want to look like a chipmunk face again in my pictures :)

I'm getting my new supplement that Tony prescribed tomorrow and I can't even take it yet...ugh...i'm excited about this one too! I can't say what it is but maybe if it works really well I may give a hint or 2??

WOO! CHECKOUT MY PHOTOS---------> ADDED MORE PICS

2008-12-26T12:02:00.001-05:00

I got our pictures today! They're awesome! Here's a taste...and why did I eat all those sweets! Ugh, i'm cleaning it up BIG time after seeing these pics!

Oh goodness...those jeans are tight now LOL!

Baking and the Holidays!

2008-12-24T07:44:00.000-05:00

Okay so I won't be baking that early EVER again :) I'm not as strong as I can be when I know there isn't a "contest" around the corner. However I did bake brownies yesterday without licking a thing just to prove to myself that i'm in control.

I'm at the weight mark that I DO NOT want to go over so I need to watch out. This happened last year. So after all the festivities I really to to work hard so I can look good for the Arnold. I'm keeping track of my weight which helps ME to make better choices. I'm not going to look like I did last year. I don't know how that happened? This time I KNOW it's because of fudge and cookies :) I haven't been eating bad food just those little sweets add up. I ate alot of sweets right after the show too ugh...it's disgusting.

Tonight I go to my mom's for Christmas Eve. My sister, brother in law, and dad all go to my mom's and it's the best time! Then tomorrow I got to Mike's parents. Eating there will be fine because 1. There isn't TONS of food like my family makes 2. My family means comfort and pigging out but with his I'm okay. He has a great family though and I can't wait to see them. I have 5 nieces and a nephew that I never see. That brings me to Saturday, Grandma's. The best homecooking EVER and comforting foods. Foods that remind me of childhood and that makes me HAPPY! I'm going to TRY and behave. I guess i'll just step on the scale before I go and that should do the trick HA!

Loving the Holidays!

2008-12-20T11:28:00.000-05:00

My kitchen is all stocked up for baking this week WOO! I love this time of year and lately i've really been in the Christmas spirit. I've been letting cars out in front of me, buying things that people NEED instead of buying unneccesary stuff for myself, and I went shopping with my mom, at night.

I had a card from VS from buying something from there last month. All I needed to do was buy something from Dec 1~Dec 24 to redeem. It would be worth $10, 50, 100 or $500. I told Jodi I wish is was worth $500 so I could buy my sister a bunch of bras to support her DD's. So I went in to buy some shower gel and I had a $50 winner! I thought for sure it would only be $10 or else I wouldn't have gotten the gel HA! So I bought my sister a bra. I call it 2 tarps and a bungee cord...she loves that. She will be so happy at Christmas!

I ran a 2 miler in 18:42 this afternoon! I NEVER just run. I've never really tried to see what I can do it in but I was happy with myself. Now my goal is going to be to do it in under 17! Of course Mike does a 5K in 19 mins LOL!

I think i'm starting to talk myself out of this surgery i'm suppose to have Jan 15th. Has anyone else had surgery on there "female" parts that can reassure me.

Feeling it!

2008-12-16T17:41:00.000-05:00

I'm down .8 lbs today since Saturday WOO! Of course then today I ate a few truffles and some nuts :) LOL! I'm just trying to see what I can get away with but that's about to stop darnit! I need to lose a little more fluff so I can eat next week. I'm gonna eat no matter what but i'd feel better if the scale was a tad lower. Don't go by the scale..I know, I know. I HAVE to get a bit below 115 though to keep TOM away ;)

I talked with Tony yesterday and he made me feel much better. I am ready to get serious again and he pretty much talked me out of a really strict diet right now...Love him! Next week we're gonna do a bit of macro shifting to prepare for Christmas YIPPEE! My workouts have been awesome lately and i'm sure it's because i'm eating more and not doing a lot of cardio. I miss the cardio though so i'm gonna at least get a walk in before work in the mornings.

Urologist's visit didn't go that well. Nothing too serious but I need to have surgery in the nether regions UGH....I'm not sure when yet but you better believe the first thing I asked was about exercise. No restrictions there...just no sex for 2 weeks YIPPE...I mean darn :(

Report Card

2008-12-14T09:50:00.000-05:00

I was RAVENOUS Friday night and yesterday. I could not get full for anything! Normally when I eat I don't get full but then again i'm not hungry afterwards. Friday night I was gonna eat a turkey burger and green beans but had to have something else so I made some yam fries...a bunch of them :) Saturday I woke up STARVING! I ate my oats and eggs...still hungry. I went and watched Mike run a 5K in 20 degree weather and that kept my mind off of it. Then throughout the day I just could not satisfy my hunger. I ate rice, MRP to make myself think I was having a shake and maybe that would do it, then I even ate a bowl of cereal with water because milk has sugars and carbs. That's how my stupid mind thinks.

Last night was our company Christmas Party. I wasn't gonna go but at the last minute I decided what the heck. All week I would grade my eating somedays as an A- and then others as a B-. I've been actually doing good and feeling better about my body. I was losing weight, ounces not pounds but at least that's something. My abs are visible again and i'm seeing my little shoulders cuts. My thighs are bigger now and the love handles are slowly showing. I need to put a STOP to that. I'm not worried about the legs because they aren't really "big" and I don't need them to look like toothpicks until comp day. Good thing because that is the ONLY time they are thin HA! Now my pooch is another story. It has a mind of it's own. It's really funny looking right now and feels all watery YIKES!

So anyway at the Christmas party I give myself a C on the food I ate only because the chicken was smothered in some sort of sauce, I had a piece of bread, and green bean almondine which had to have something bad on it because it was SO good. I'm use to eating green beans straight from the can(don't hurl Angela). Then comes dessert...need I type anymore? FAILED!!! Oh boy it was YUMMY though! There was some sort of flourless chocolate cake and it was all fudgy and cakey at the same time mmmmm.....It was a nice meal but now i'm back to eating good the rest of the week. Remember my mentality about the milk...doesn't apply to chocolate. I knew I shouldn't have gone. BUT, it tis the season to enjoy your friends and family and i'm not going to dwell on it.

So today I woke up and i'm feeling good. I didn't eat breakfast first thing because I wasn't hungry. I went to Target instead. I need to do my bi/tri workout and may throw some extra cardio in there. I'm taking the fur girl to Petsmart today.

Tomorrow I have to go to a urologist...ugh....i'm scared.

****you may think oh she ate rice, cereal and an MRP and she thinks that's bad. Truth is Mike had polished off the Tostios or I would have eaten those. I do not keep things in my house or I WOULD eat that comfort stuff. Thought about buying some Wheat Thins at Target but even though they are in Mike's goody cabinet I would end up eating them LOL!****

Reminding Myself

2008-12-10T17:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I felt like crap and this morning i'm feeling great! I even sent Tony a text and told him my pants were getting tight. He replies...No more cheats! Oh yeah, maybe that is why LOL!

This is the point in time when i've added back cottage cheese, Metrx and fruit, and i'm gaining so I believe it's because of that. Nevermind the Wheat Thins or the 6 chocolate covered pretzels I've had! So I am responsible for what I put in my mouth. That doesn't mean I won't relax and enjoy the holidays. I'm doing okay on my eating I think. I would be perfect if there wasn't that thing called chocolate that's EVERYWHERE right now. Funny how I can pass on it during prep time but not right now???

My weight is fluctuating between 116~118 right now. As long as I don't go over 120 during this season i'll be alright :) I REALLY want to be 114. 4 stinking lbs...is that too much to ask for? That's a mini goal for myself...114 by 12/24 because that is appetizer night at mom's and I know i'll gain then LOL!

Freeform

2008-12-06T10:47:00.000-05:00

I was on here reading blogs and thought I would post one myself. I have no clue what i'll type about :)

I went to Target this morning and bought some cottage cheese, strawberries, and grapefruits YUM! I don't know what to do with my time right now. Tony actually told me I don't have to do as much cardio as i've been doing. So now i'm trying to stay off the treadmill. My workouts have been GREAT this past week. Except for Wednesday and that was my fault. I ate a TON of nuts and then my stomach hurt. My weight is around 116 right now which is up 9 lbs from comp day. I'm feeling good though. That first week and the initial shock of your body not looking all dehydrated is the toughest. Once you realize you are human and that look is NOT healthy you tend to not be as mental. So i'm enjoying my body right now although I need to get back to 90% clean ASAP. I would say i've been around 75% right now. My downfalls are nuts and creamers EEK!

I was reading an article from a friend of mine that she was showcased on. She said that she typically takes an "off season", although she doesn't like to call it that either because she's healthy all year round, through Oct~Dec. She likes to bake with her son and enjoy the holidays. He will remember baking with mommy and having a good time and not that mommy didn't have a 6 pack :) I loved that!

Back At It!

2008-12-02T17:14:00.001-05:00

Okay, last week was my "off season" and i'm glad it's done. I did do all my workouts but eating was junky. I felt like crap. I was depressed looking like a puffalump in the mirror. This is day 3 of clean eating and i'm seeing my abs again! My legs look like this now:

Okay, maybe not ;)

So after a few more weeks of eating good i'll feel much better. I am doing my early morning cardio although it's just a half an hour. THIS IS WHAT I CHOSE TO DO. NO ONE IS PRESCRIBING THIS FOR ME. SO DON'T GO CUTTING AND PASTING AND SENDING TO A TRAINER AND MAKING HIM LOOK BAD FOR IT. I love waking up and getting a good sweat in. It's not as intense though but it still feels good.

Reminiscing

2008-11-28T08:19:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe this time last week I was all gung ho to have the Muscle in the City weekend. I'm sad now...it's over. It's not totally over though. We're already planning our next get together! Sometimes it's scary meeting people you're not sure you really know or will click with. I typically don't like being around people. I'm a loner. I like it that way. I have friends but I don't really hang out with them that often. I use to ALL the time but you know, jobs, kids, and figure comps HA! I'm so glad to have found Angela, Stacey and Tina. We all GET each other. It's nice to have someone GET you and understand your madness. Each one of us is different but together we all make up the perfect friendship.

Angela-quiet, reserved, short as heck, petite, philly accent, family oriented and caring

Tina-big hearted, smiley, full of life, too caring, goofy, drinks wine

Stacey-mother hen, gabby, hilarious, brightens up a room, storyteller

Me-hates people, gets pissed off easily, hates GPS phones

Ha! See put us 4 together and you get Muscle in the City a friendship that never dies!!!!

WTF???

2008-11-26T20:46:00.000-05:00

Seriously...my legs STILL feel like this:

I have never felt this way after a comp. I know it will pass but I want it to pass NOW! I didn't do anything different...too much chocolate is my norm. I did NOT have ANY splenda the week of the show or it could be the 24 days of ZERO carb that my body is hating right now? Either way I know the sausage leg syndrome will be gone but i'm just not sure when. I'm back to eating clean with a piece of fudge thrown in today because OMG I have THE easiest and BEST fudge recipe!!! My workouts are great and i'm hoping they push some water out of my system.

I'm super pumped about the upcoming figure season next year! I even have plan to do a show in Philly with Angela!...yep, she's got the bug too :)

Fudge:
16 oz of PB
16 oz of Chocolate frosting
Leave in container(take foil and lids off)microwave each for 1 min. Pour into bowl and stir. Put in 8x8 pan and chill overnight.

I'm not joking, that's all there is to it. Remember watching mom and grandma make fudge and it was some big fiasco with a thermometer and all?? I'm gonna do my best not to gorge tomorrow. I'm actually sick of food so it may be pretty easy. I did get hungry today which was a nice feeling LOL!

What A Weekend!

2008-11-24T06:15:00.000-05:00

This was such a great weekend. We will have stories for a lifetime and it'll only be funny to us but it's great that way LOL! What could make this weekend better?

It's a candy factory we found on the way home. There was even a chocolate fountain in it AND you could sample ANYTHING you wanted too! Oh yes you better believe I did.

So I ended up with the worst placing you could get...6th. There were 10 girls in my class. The one where you are thinking what if I did this different or what if I did that different. My height is right on the border, I can go short or medium. I should have chosen medium and then I would have myself a silver girl and then I could play barbies with Stacey and Tina but I didn't chose that and I still looked good so i'm happy. Also, there was a bobybuilding girl who crossed over to figure. So she took my 5th place spot as well grrr...

I never really know what I look like until I see pics. I wasn't too disappointed with the pics i've seen though.

Friday started off with Angela's plane being 3 hours late! Once I got her we headed to Rockford. The roadtrip there was as fun as not drinking water and eating chicken can be :) We would see billboards and signs for food and Starbucks, of course we were like we'll go there on the way back. In reality on the way back we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and that candy store and that was it!

I weighed 107.8 comp morning and I weighed this morning and i'm 117.2 LOL!! YES! I think I may go walk on the treadmill for a bit. I'm also doing a shoulder workout later WOO!

I'll post more later and i'll try and get more pics over on my pic place.

Peace Out!

2008-11-21T07:57:00.001-05:00

I can't believe the weekend of the Muscle and the City is finally here! Watch out Rockford!!!!

Tagged...AGAIN LOL!

2008-11-20T07:15:00.000-05:00

I got tagged by Sundie. I'm supposed to name 6 things that make me happy and then tag 6 fellow bloggers.... so here goes:

1. Going on walks with my Boomer and dogs in general.

2. Just relaxing on the couch with Mike catching up on shows.

3. Going shopping and knowing i'll fit into a size 4

4. The start of fall and the leaves and fresh air.

5. Going on cruise or to the beach.

6. Coffee and of course thinking about Muscle and the City! WOOT!

Okay,the six people I am tagging are:

Jodi
Stacey
Hillary
Jessica
Becca
Liimu

p.s. Keebler Elves make me happy too!

Hungry?

2008-11-19T16:01:00.000-05:00

Heck no, not today! Man, i'm eating WAY too much food today but I just do as i'm told :D I'm not really complaining LOL!

I have so many things to do:

Hair appt
Pedicure
finish packing
double checking my packing
fill up gas
go to ATM
cook food for Angela and I for Friday's roadtrip!

Okay, I guess it's not that much but tomorrow will fly by!

This weekend is going to be so much i'm about to pee my pants!

Oh, here is a pic of the 2 piece i'll be wearing. This was taken Sunday. Thank you, thank you Jodi!!!!

One week out!

2008-11-15T10:36:00.000-05:00

I'm getting SUPER pumped about the upcoming week! It's going to be the best!

Tomorrow Jodi is coming up and we're going to the mall and then back to my house for a suit fashion show...remember Jodi, I just had 2 carb up days LOL!

Check out the below...Tom Richardson(Kristal's hubby) made it for me!

My Video :)

Told You I Love This Stuff!

2008-11-14T17:36:00.001-05:00

I can't wait to try the eye serum! I'll let you know if it works miracles! I have bags under my eyes from...getting older...and waking up at 4:30a everyday. I also LOVE toner and this toner smells amazing. It doesn't smell like alcohol that dries you out. WOOHOO!

On the show front i'm getting leaner and leaner everyday :) I got some carbs today and my abs puffed up just like a pastry! Actually my wee shoulders and bicep did too! Now if I can just get my butt to flatten like a pancake a little. Can you tell I have food on the brain LOL! Tomorrow is a carb up for me AND I get to enjoying my incredible MRP mmmmm....chocolate shake at 1 week out!

Man, this is going to be the funnest experience! I love doing shows with a friend. That's why Jodi and I always plan the local ones together. It's fun doing it locally because if I forget something I can run home. Plus if Jodi forgot something I could always get it for her. Now I HAVE to remember everything! My suit and shoes are important, shoes and jewelry also, makeup yes, but the MOST important thing I need to remember is MOOSE MUNCH!!!! LOL!