Motivational Thursday

This is an email that I sent out to my amazing workout group!  Enjoy!

Happy Thursday Folks,

At this moment I'm feeling a little guilty, but only because I'm eating a cookie. It is after all Thursday Treat Day! The good news is, is that it's the only treat I have had. Remember last week when I was sitting here with my cake and many other desserts! This morning I made myself eat breakfast so that I would not be starving (like I normally am) for the treats. The other thing that helps, is that today's treat day doesn't seem to be all that awesome! Either way, it is helping me not eat everything that I see!!!

So far this week (all three days of it) I have done the daily excercise!!! Two of those days I also did the running and the other day I danced for an hour. Last night was a little rough! I had gotten home from school and did my running. Instead of doing the daily workout, I put a load of laundry away! Then I went and sang at Church and went to visit my boyfriend!

By the time I got home it was 11pm, I had to walk my dog, and it was freezing and drizzling outside. Once again the entire walk with Chandler I was trying to talk myself out of doing the daily excercise. I thought about nice it would be to just crawl into my flannel pj pants and then into bed. But then I thought of how great I had been doing. I mean, I already ran and that to me is the hard part. So, I got home, went upstairs and did the workout. It seemed harder than I remember, but maybe because it was 11:30 at night and my body was just done! But, I did it! And I can say that I did it! And as I fell asleep, I thought...yay me!

I hope that you all are allowing yourself to feel that! If you are making better choices with your eating and/or working out...it's all awesome! You are doing this for your health. Your choices in the short term only affect you! If you want to workout or eat better...that will not change anything other than your life. So, this is purely a selfish thing to do! And let's be honest, most of us could use a purely selfish moment! If you start looking out beyond yourself, you will see this decision affects those around you. If you eat better will your significant other eat better? If your kids see you working out and eating right, won't that affect how they eat and take care of themselves in the future. So, if you can't handle taking a moment or doing something for yourself...then think of if like this...your actions will affect and change those around you! My BFF FlyLady says all the time, if you are happy then those around you will be happier!

So, get out there and make yourself happy! Go to bed happy because you worked out! Go to bed sore because you kicked your own rear end and pushed yourself harder than you did yesterday! I know you can do it! You know you can do it! You just have to let yourself actually do it! Push away all the negative thoughts, the fears, the tiredness, the stress, the excuses...and make yourself happy! You deserve it as much as you think other people deserve it!  

About my week so far...

So far my week has been great!  I am doing this workout thing- see Inspirational Wednesday for today's well inspiration!  I also just want to talk as well sometimes!

Let's see, where to begin!  Oh, I went do a dance class on Monday night!  It was a lot of fun!  We are learning a few dances that I already know, so I was one of the leaders of the class!  This is awesome for one reason, I was never the leader when I was younger.  Mainly because I did not like dance all that much, because I was not flexible.  Part of the flexibility we will blame on my Dad's gene's and the other part will be blamed on my hips being rotated in and crooked!  We will not ever blame it on the fact that I might have been lazy and did not want to work hard, no...that would be silly!  Anyway, so it was nice to be the leader!  Being the leader has it's downfalls as well!  I was not able to mark the dances at all!  Since I knew them and others were following me...I danced full out for the entire hour.  I was sweating up a storm and by the end of class I was dead tired!  So I went home, took Chan out, and then went upstairs to bed!  I am not even sure if I said good night to anyone!

Yesterday I went out to dinner with my friend Emily!  We went to Unforked, which is an amazing place and has amazing frozen custard!  But since I'm trying to eat better and workout...I opted for a crispy avacado taco!  It was amazing, but that might be becasue I LOVE avacados!!!  Then we ate and talked for 2 hours.  If we didn't have stuff to do later that night, I'm sure we could have talked the whole night!  Not to brag, but I'm going to for just a minute.  I have great friends!!!  We can go a week, a month, or a few months without seeing each other...but when you see someone again...it's as if you saw them just the other day!  I never run out of things to say with them...it's just nice and fun and comfortable!  One of the reasons I'm so looking forward to camp is that a lot of my "inner circle" works there!  So, yay for me!!!  Okay, enough bragging!

Well, I guess I don't have much else to report on...this weekend is going to feel like a vacation compared to last weekend!  I'm trying to plan on doing nothing!  Ha ha ha, I never thought I would be that person, who had to plan on doing nothing!  Wait, I take that back...I would like to plan to sit out on the back porch and drink a glass of wine!  That is what I would like to plan!  Ha ha ha!  And right now after having the amazing avacado yesterday...maybe some chips and guac or cheese dip!  If we are going mexican themed here then forget the wine, and bring out the margarita's!  Ha ha ha...wow...I think it's time for me to go now!  Happy Wednesday folks!  Peace!

Inspirational Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday! Do you guys remember back in the day when Wednesday would be called Hump Day? I really wanted to start this email by saying Happy Hump Day!!!

Alright folks, it's the middle of the week! If you have not started working out that is okay! But don't put it off until next week! I once ready that if you are going to start eating healthy...don't say starting next Monday! Why wait, if you really want it...putting it off longer will stop you from doing it. Start that minute, that next meal, the afternoon or evening workout! You can do it, just believe in yourself!

Today I'm wearing my uber tight, muffin topping, painted on jeans. It was not my first choice in pants, but my stretchy looser (is that a word) jeans were in the washing machine. Anyway, I'm wearing these jeans...and I'm a bit grumpy about it. But, the only thing that is keeping me smiling is the fact that I'm doing something about it! I ate healthy all day yesterday!!! I even picked something somewhat healthy when I went out to dinner. I wanted the ice cream cookie sunday! But I got an avacado taco instead! And this morning, I really wanted to eat a pop tart! But I had toast instead! So, even though my pants are too tight for comfort, I'm still wearing them! And I'm still smiling because I'm doing something about it!

So folks, let's do something about it! Workout, sweat, get sore...you are still allowed to complain! I will listen to your complaints and probably join in...but then you can sit back and smile because you are working on it! There is nothing more annoying to me than someone who complains about something, but then does nothing about it! Arg!!! Losing weight, getting toned- well it basically sucks! It is no where near as fun as gaining the weight! But I feel amazing about my choices and I felt amazing last night going to bed- proud of how I did that day! I know that in 9 weeks time I will feel amazing about how my jeans fit!

Everyone stand up right now and do some jumping jacks!!! Did anyone stand up? Ha ha ha- I did not! Let's not get weird! But workout when you get home from work or before you start your day! Do something about it! You should be proud of what you are doing for yourself! And if you have not started yet, start right now!  

A bit random...but that is okay!

Good morning Monday!  My day is going great!  Monday's can be a bit rocky...but I'm fully prepared for an amazing day!  I actually woke up and worked out today!  How cool is that!  I wish I could say it was easy, but it was not!  I have not been sleeping well lately.  I guess it's been a while now.  I'm pretty sure it has something to do with my eating habits.  But I just dream like crazy and they are vivid dreams where when I wake up the next morning I feel like I didn't sleep at all.  I read last week that if you fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow then you are exhausted and not getting enough sleep.  Wow, Sherlock was it?  Anyway, that is how I am!  So, when I dream like this I'm exhausted throughout the day.  Last night I had some crazy dreams and they weren't terrible, but I woke up with a weird feeling.  The most annoying part is that I can't remember the dream!  I hate when that happens.  Anyway, back to me waking up and working out.  I made myself do and I feel better!  I also woke up with a headache so the jumping jacks kind of sucked...but I made it through them and the rest of the workout and feel amazing!!!

I had cereal for breakfast.  As I was eating it, I thought I should make myself a snack because cereal doesn't last all but 10 min...and here it is about 90 min later and I just ate my snack.  Why doesn't cereal last?  I feel like those are just wasted calories and if I counted calories I would never eat cereal!  I was however proud that I made a snack of English muffin and nutella!  Yummy!!!

As of right now, the rest of my Monday isn't anything to write home about, but it's going to stay amazing and I will make it stay amazing!

This past weekend was a busy one.  Wolverine Night was awesome!  The kids don't know how to dance.  Okay, so a few of them do...and then you have to tell them to not dance like that because they are 12.  I was told that I dance like a sista, which was cool!  It beats being told that I dance like a goofy white chick!  So, I left happy!  Then I got to see Curt and hang out there!  The book I made about Colorado arrived and we looked at it together!  It was awesome!

I worked on Saturday, went to lunch with out of town family, went and bought stuff for my cousin-in-law's baby shower and then made a diaper tricycle!  You can see a picture below!  Then Saturday night I went to the Roller Derby with my family to celebrate a friends birthday!  It was actually pretty cool.  It was like stepping into a different world.  I was told that I should do the Roller Derby.  That my character would be amazing!  That I can agree with, but I would not want to be shoved or tripped.  That is a big ewww, for me! But who knows what is in my future!  Sunday was the baby shower.  It was a complete success!!!  Now I can't wait for the party we are trowing for our other Cousin-In-Law, Betsy!!!

Here is my idea, I would love to be a party planner!  So, I'm going to treat Betsy's shower like my first real party!  How fun is that?  My wedding will be the first wedding that I do!  So, maybe this will either show me that I love it...or that I don't like it as much as I thought!  Yahoo for me!  Okay, I'm out for today!  I need to start filling up my water bottle and getting my drink on!  Peace out folks!

Oh this week...

Happy Friday Folks!!!

So, as you know this week I started a workout group!  It's very exciting because I have added 3 people that I don't know!!!  Before you start thinking that I'm a really cool person (I'm serious stop that thought right now...) they are in a bible study with my sister.  Her bible study happens to be about losing weight!!!  So, it really helped my email list!  Ha ha ha.

I would also like to welcome my sister Megan to this blog!  Not that she is going to say anything or anything (unless you want to Megan...) but she is now reading it!  So, hello Megan!!!  I also had a guy I didn't know write a comment!  I was so excited when I read that!!!  So, Hello Mark (I'm not sure if you are reading still), thank you for your comment!  It meant a lot to me!

I have to make a confession!  I wasn't going to tell you guys, but now I feel as if I need too!  I was talking to Curt on Tuesday and he told me that he googled my name!  He said he was missing me in the wee early hours of the morning and started looking me up.  He looked at my MySpace (did not know it was still up...have not touched that since 2007), all of my Facebook pics, and then he told me that he looked at my Pinterest boards!!!  Um....what?  I'm not sure why...but that freaked me out!  He said he looked at my wedding one and loved everything that I had pinned.  I said, well thank goodness that you couldn't see the hidden wedding board I pinned.  I would have looked like a crazy wedding obsessed person (lucky for me, he knows that I'm wedding obsessed!!!).  The he said, I like the pic that you are going to leave on my night stand the day before our wedding.  Well folks lets be honest, I have pinning to this board for a few years now...and I don't remember every single pin that I pin.  (Sidebar: I pinned a pin that says "Sometimes I have a freak out moment on trying to remember if I pinned something.  Is it awesome enough to pin again if I did pin it?  Or do I risk not pinning it, then being mad because I can no longer find it- so funny and so true).  So, here is where my confession comes in.  I went and looked at my wedding board.  I said last week or a few weeks ago that I was cutting it out and not looking at anything wedding related.  But it was driving me nuts.  I had to know what pic I was going to leave for him!  Well, I found it...and then quickly got out of the wedding board!  So, that is all I have to say about that!

Last night I went to small group.  We are discussing Grief for the next 4-5 meetings.  It should be a really fun time.  Tyler (head group guy) said how do you deal with grief...well folks, I make jokes.  I make the people around me laugh and feel better.  Then I feel better, because while an event is sad...that sadness can crush you!  And for me...nothing is worse than a crushing sadness.  So, I make jokes and make light of the situation.  I am tasteful about it...but let me show you what I mean.

I talked about my experience with loss.  My exes mom, my marriage, My Grandfather...I was tearing up with all of those.  Then I started talking about Chandler (who is not dead) and I started bawling.  Someone earlier in the evening asked does grief and mourning have to be for a person.  So, I'm sitting here crying about how sad I will be when Chan Chan (my dog) dies.  And I stop and say...why am I even talking about this...he is not dead.  The same thing happened later in the evening when I was talking about a loss of innocence (I said there was a loss of innocence when my dad has his heart attack.  It became too real that my parents were going to eventually pass...as can anyone that I love) Anyway, once again I'm crying about my dad and his heart attack, and the gals are all crying with me and I stop myself saying...why am I crying about this...my dad is alive and well!  It made all of the gals laugh!  There have been plenty of "the next time I get married" jokes as well!  My point is...I make jokes when I feel sad or uncomfortable...it's what I do.  Make the people around me laugh!  For the record, it was funny last night...it might not be as funny today.  Oh well...that is just how it is!

This weekend, is Wolverine Night at my school (middle school mixer), then tomorrow I'm going to the Roller Derby, then on Sunday is a Baby Shower for my cousin's baby!!!  I also got an app on my phone for blogging...so I can blog on the weekends!!!  How fun for me...and you!  But really for me!  Okay, I'm out for today folks...peace!

My priorities...oh dear

So many things to do...and it seems like there is never any time!  Or maybe my priorities are just a bit off.  Okay, so I don't think they are off...it just seems like the fun things I want to do are not at the top of the list.  For example, I want to do some crafts...but it's not any where near the top of my lists.  Here is what at the top of my lists...

1. Work (full time and part time)

2. Family time

3. Eating (this should be up even more...but I felt weird putting eating first)

4. Relaxing

5. Napping

6. Crafting

Now I know what you are saying, Hey Amy...how about you don't relax or nap and then you can move your crafting up...but those things are super important to me!  Ha ha ah!  So, I guess no complaining for me!  This summer I'm hoping to have some "real" time off.  I will work a ton from Monday-Thursday so that I can relax on Friday and Saturday!  Or do crafts or just chill or go to the pool!  Who knows what this summer will bring!

Here is a list of things I want to make this summer: I am hoping to take pics of everything

1. Dress Form 

2. The darn ladder that is still in the basement of my folks house (which is still my house as well)- picked up the end of November beginning of December

3. The side table- picked up last summer from the side of the road.

4.  Dress that I started making at the latest in 2008- now that is just sad!  But I can't figure out how to make the top...hopefully this summer it will be easy with a dress form!

Alright, I'm getting a little busy here at work, so I'm peace-ing out!  Dreaming of the wonderful days of summer with Camp and a bit of Ford...and hopefully some crafting stuff!!!  Bye!!!

10 Week Workout- Week #1

Alright folks,

So, we all know (all two of my readers...if they actually read this...Sarah?  Suzanne?) that I have been off and on with working out.  We all know that I don't have a "body issue" or think that I am fat.  But we also know that for the poor person that I am...I need to do everything in my power to keep on fitting into the clothes that I had.  Well I was so crazy around the chiefs audition time...that after I didn't make it...I just kept eating and eating.  It was amazing and so much fun!

Fast forward 5 weeks...I am not fitting into my jeans without muffin topping over the top.  I'm feeling chunky in just about everything that I'm wearing and it's bringing my attitude down.  Does anyone else think I have gained weight?  No!  Did I gain a ton of weight?  No!  But...once again like before...to me...it feels like a ton of weight.

So, I thought...I need to get motivated!  And what is the best way for me to get motivated   To make other people feel motivated and workout with me!  So, I have done just that!  I have a 10 week workout plan (found on Pinterest) that I am doing with 5-8 other people!  You do a set workout every day and then add a running workout onto that!  Last night was day 1!  I need to take a pic or take measurements...because the scale is not going to be accurate!  For me it's all about the feeling!

So, if you would like to do this workout with us, you really should!  We started yesterday, but  I would suggest that you jump right on in with the Tuesday workout!  If you are reading this, and I don't know who you are...please let me know you joined this 10 week workout with us!  So, I'm excited and hope that we can all stick with it!  We all need to change a few things about the way we live!

10 Week Workout Plan

Monday

150 Jumping Jacks

50 crunches

20 Tricep Dips

15 Squats

20 Lunges (each leg)

70 Russian Twists

20 standing Calf Raises

5 Push-ups

30 Second Plank

15 Lunge Split Jumps

Tuesday

80 Jumping Jacks

50 Vertical Leg Crunches

20 Sit-ups

15 Tricep Dips

20 Squats

10 Side Lunges (each leg)

15 Leg Lifts

50 Bicycles

15 Wall Push-ups

40 Russian Twists

Wednesday

90 Jumping Jacks

20 Tricep Dips

10 Sit-ups

30 Bird-Dogs

30 Second Plank

30 Squats

40 Crunches

10 Oblique Crunches (each side)

20 Standing Calf raises

 Thursday

100 Jumping Jacks

25 Vertical Leg Crunches

20 Squats

20 Wall Push-Ups

50 Russian Twists

15 Second Side Plank (each side)

10 Lunge Split Jumps

5 Jump Squats

40 High Knees

Friday

60 Jumping Jacks

40 Crunches

10 Sit-ups

10 Tricep Dips

20 Side Lunges (each side)

15 Incline Push-ups

10 Oblique Crunches (each side)

50 Butt Kickers

5 Jump Squats

15 Jack Knife Sit-ups

Saturday

50 Jumping Jacks

20 Squats

100 Russian twists

5 Kneeling Push-ups

1 Minute Downward Dog

15 Jack Knife Sit-ups

10 Lunges (each side)

10 Side Lunges (each side)

20 Bird Dogs

20 Inner Thigh Lifts (each leg)

Sunday

45 Jumping Jacks

15 Squats

5 Jump Squats

50 Russian Twists

30 Second Plank

10 Standing Calf Raises

5 Kneeling Push-ups

30 Second Superman

10 Lunges (each leg)

40 Crunches

Cardio (by week at least 3x per week…If not more)

11.        1 min run, 2 min walk (7x)

22. .      2 min run, 2 min walk (5x)

33.        3 min run, 2 min walk (4x)

44.        5 min run, 2 min walk (3x)

55.         6 min run, 90 sec walk (3x)

66.         8 min run, 90 sec walk (2x)

77.        10 min run, 90 sec walk (2x)

88.       12 min run, 1 min walk, 8 min run

99.         15 min run, 1 min walk,  5 min run

110.    20 min run continuously