It's crazy what can happen in a week...

Heads up... this post may be a little TMI (so stop reading now if you don't want to read it) - You've been warned!

So I had been dealing with the issues with my back/sciatic nerve - went to the doctor last Monday - and he is pretty sure it is my sciatic. He prescribed me some Ibuprofen and Robaxin (muscle relaxer) AND made a referral to Physical Therapy. Ok - making some progress!

Tuesday morning I wake up and decide to do some yoga so I can stretch out some. I lay down on the floor and I have the most horrendous pain shooting through my right breast.  I call the doctor and have an appt. for the following Monday.  As the week goes on - my pain gets worse.  I end up going to the doctor on Friday.

I see the doctor and he sends me right to the Women's Center to see a Surgeon. I get to see the Surgeon pretty quickly and he tells me that it is an abscess and it needs to be drained TODAY! Because of the location - I need to go in for surgery.  So at 2 pm I headed into the hospital - surgery at 4pm(ish). I was a nervous wreck. The surgery team was GREAT! Everyone had such a great personality and really helped to calm my nerves.  Once I started breathing in the oxygen - next thing I knew, I was OUT! I woke up in recovery and was like "it's over!?" I had a cyst the size of a quarter removed! I follow up with Dr. Pearce tomorrow after school.

So now I continue to be out of commission in the workout department.  I'm up another pound.  I need to get my eating under control!!

doctor, doctor

2:30 can't come fast enough... that's when I leave school and head to the doctor, and I can't wait. I'm so tired of being in pain! I slept pretty good last night, on the couch. But I woke up early and was pretty uncomfortable :(  right now I'm sitting here with an ice pack on my ass.  My right leg, hip and butt check are covered in biofreeze.

Being active really seems to help.  I did Combat on Saturday and I wasn't hurting like I thought I would be.  Yesterday we went for a walk on the Spanish Moss trail.  It's almost like the activity seems to help, but at the same time I'm worried about hurting myself more.

This isn't fair! I'm only 35 and I shouldn't be hurting like this.

In other news... I pretty much lost the weight that I put on over the holidays - YAY!! :) Looking forward to this week

chiropractor

So I went to the chiropractor tonight after work.  He is really helping with my hips/low back.  I asked about working out.  He said it would be best if I could workout there at his office (they now offer therapeutic exercise - aka trying to get more money from me) but he said that I can and should slowly be working out.  I asked about my elliptical and he said that would be a good option since it's low impact, but if I start to have pain - I need to stop. I have to go back at least 2 other times this week to be adjusted to try and alleviate the pain that I'm having at night.

I was pretty on point with my meals today :)

Here's to hoping I sleep past 3 am tonight and that I can get an elliptical workout in before school :)

Pain

Well, it's 3:30 am  on January 2nd and I'm awake!  I fell asleep in bed somewhere around midnight... did you read that? In my own bed!  I have finally slept some in my bed the past 2 nights!! :) Granted it hasn't been long (2 hours the first night, 3.5 hours last night) but I have finally been able to sleep in my bed :)  I'm making some progress.  I see my Chiropractor again on Monday and he has a copy of my most recent X-Rays so I'm hoping to get some answers.  (and some more relief!)

We signed the lease on our new apt. earlier this week.  We begin to move in 2 weeks!! I'm excited and looking forward to this new place... Kitchen, Living Room, Half-Bath are downstairs and 2 Bedrooms, Bath, and Washer/Dryer are upstairs.  AND we have a garage :)  I'm really looking forward to the fact that Aiden's bedroom isn't going to be next to the front door OR the kitchen OR the living room.  Another great bonus to this apt is the fact that we are REALLY close to the Spanish Moss Trail!  Walking, bike riding, and (eventually - once I'm able to again) running will be in my families future!! A lot easier than it has been.

I've been sitting here with ice on my back (because that is what my Chiropractor said to do) and it isn't helping the pain.  I really want to put the heating pad on it - but I'm not supposed to.  He says that the heating pad will make it feel better temporarily - but it will do more damage because it makes the inflammation worse.

I'm getting back at it!

I've been back to Weight Watchers since this summer... I'm down 15-17 lbs (depending on the day) and I've pretty much been STUCK since the beginning of November.  BOO!

I purchased Les Mills PUMP and COMBAT when it was MAJORLY on sale around Thanksgiving. I had to wait to get the okay from my doctor to start working out after my knee treatments.  I finally got that okay and I had been working out about 2 weeks and something happened to my back/hip.  So I've been off my workout game for about the past week and a half and it totally SUCKS!  I've been to the chiropractor for adjustments (but they were closed all this past week), went for a massage, and ended up at Urgent Care on Friday.  I go back to the chiropractor on Tuesday and I cannot wait! I'm feeling okay - just taking it day by day.

So now since I can't really work out - I need to check myself in other areas.  I am getting myself back to the basics with my food.  

Goals

I have always had goals - I would write them down in some sort of fashion - but wouldn't really keep them where they were easily viewed daily.  That will change with these set of goals! I also need to break these down into smaller chunks.

Half Marathon - I am currently registered for my first 10k in February. The Savannah Hot Cocoa Half! I'm looking at the Palmetto Bluff Half Marathon at the beginning of March. I just worry because it is only 9 weeks to train...

Loose 75 pounds (6.25 lbs monthly) - I will be celebrating every 5 lbs and a reward for each 10 lbs lost. I have these already figured out from before. I just need to break them (visuals) back out again.  I'm currently in size 16/18 pants... looking forward to that number going down as well!

Blog to keep up accountability - I would like to blog just about every day... I'm going to shoot for 3 days a week to start!

Budget - I like to spend money... it has always been and issue for me. I need to set myself a budget and try to save some money. I have a picture saved about putting away money each week - It's a great idea, I really want to do it!

Seek out a therapist - I know I have a lot of internal stuff going on... I need to talk to someone that I'm not close to. That I'm not worried about hurting feelings.


Hopefully we will be in our own place soon. Application #2 was turned in for an appt. Hopefully we will hear back from them by Friday - but they said Monday at the latest.  This place was AMAZING! I hate putting it out there since I don't know if we will be approved for it, but I'm just so excited. Once we have our own place I know I will be able to really take off with my goals! I know that sounds like an excuse - but this is just so hard not having my own space to work out (or a gym membership) and not having my kitchen to prepare/keep my food in!

Ok - I think this is all for tonight y'all. 

Back in the Game!

Well - It is officially time for me to get back in the game. I have lost ANY and ALL progress that I made this past year. I know that the move didn't help - along with 4 adults and 1 toddler living in one house together. Hopefully we will have our house/apartment/townhouse/condo - SOMETHING - soon! I will be able to do more and it will be better for me and my family.  I can workout and eat what I need to eat and have the right food stored in my house and not need to worry about other people eating my food, or not having any room to store my food!

I have a lot of things rambling around in my head... I need to get all my goals and wishes and dreams down on paper (er... computer screen)

I am going to be contacting a therapist for myself as well... I really think that this will be good for me. I need to do that next week!

No gym membership for now :( I'm really missing my gym!! But we just don't have the $$ for it right now. I have DVD's to do at home - and I'm getting back to running so I can meet my goal of a half marathon!  I don't need no stinkin' gym! I signed up for a 10k in Savannah in February too!!

Good and Bad

Good - I fit into a size L today at Old Navy instead of an XL

Good - I got many compliments on how good I'm looking - even though I've been in a plateau for the past month or so... the extra BodyPump class and heavier weight is definitely paying off!

Bad - I didn't pack snacks today... 

Bad - I didn't get to eat lunch until 3pm - I had Sonic

Good - I had a GREAT workout today - BodyCombat & BodyFlow

Bad - I had Chinese for dinner (chicken and broccoli though...)

Frustrated

I'm back up this week... I haven't lost much this month... FRUSTRATED doesn't even begin to touch on how I feel.  I think I've hit that dreaded plateau!  Time to shake things up...

I have played around with my calories in My Fitness Pal... I don't think I'm eating enough again. Such a weird concept - not eating enough to loose the weight.

I've also decided to drop the RPM class during the week and add in an additional BodyPump class. That's where your body shape changes. I have also upped my weight that I'm lifting in BodyPump... I can already tell a difference in my arms.

I don't have much time to write this morning.... I need to get going and get ready for work!!

Day 3

I'm currently on Day 3 of my 10 Day Cleanse. I feel ok. I felt GREAT on day 1 and 2 - I think my problem today is allergies.

Spark = AMAZING!! I'm really not missing my soda's at all.... now, yesterday I spent most of the day wanting/craving chocolate and peanut butter or more specifically - reese's pb eggs :)

I have been pretty satisfied with my meals - the only time that I have felt HUNGRY is when I've gotten off my schedule for unforeseen circumstances. But it didn't get too bad before I got to get back on track.

So far, I've tried 1 new recipe... gotta love leftovers :) Spaghetti Squash!

It is pretty good! I'm pretty impressed on how well it turned out! The strands from the squash can be used as a substitute for spaghetti (hence it's name). After I cooked the squash in the microwave I cleaned out the seeds and pulp and then used a fork to get the strands of the spaghetti squash out of the rind.  I cooked up some turkey sausage and zucchini with some itallian seasoning and no sugar added spaghetti sauce.  Then once all that was cooked up I added the spaghetti squash. It tasted AMAZING! I've had it for dinner the past 2 nights - haha.

Both Adam and Aiden tried it and both seemed to like it. They didn't eat a big bowl - but I think if I ever made this for dinner, they would eat it.

Yesterday morning I stayed home with a sick Aiden so I was able to make a breakfast...

This is my egg and green pepper omelet (that isn't really an omelet) It was okay.... it was missing something - CHEESE!

One thing that really sucks on the cleanse - is the fiber drink. The first day I mixed it with water like the instructions said and it really does thicken quickly. It was really hard to chug down quickly and by the end I nearly gagged trying to get it down. I read recommendations to mix it with OJ instead. So I got some Trop50 to mix it with on day 2 - MUCH BETTER. It just tastes like OJ with a LOT of pulp BTW - I don't like pulp.  It is manageable that way. I don't have to take it again until day 8! YAY!!

I can't wait to share my end results next week!!

10 day cleanse

Tomorrow I am starting the Advocare 10 day cleanse.  I'm pretty excited! On it I need to make sure I am eating clean - that means nothing processed.  I can have days where I eat quite a bit of processed foods - so I think this is going to be good for me.  On the cleanse - for 10 days only - no dairy, no wheat (even whole wheat), no coffee or soda, no sugar, no fried foods, no alcohol.  After the 10 days food restrictions are off - but the goal is to continue to eat clean - and to cut soda completely.

So tomorrow morning I start with this - Spark (which is supposed to take the place of my soda) and my fiber drink in the cleanse box.  Then in the evening I have some pills from the cleanse box to take. I can drink 1-3 Sparks a day - but I only bought the variety pack to try it out - and it only comes with 12, so I only have 2 extra.  So my plan is to save those for days when I really need it.  

My breakfast - egg muffins with bacon and green peppers - I also have hard boiled eggs for breakfast and snacks thanks to Easter

I have my lunches ready for 4 days - tilapia, brown and wild rice, and broccoli

And I have my gallon of lemon water ready for tomorrow. Goal is to drink at least 1 gallon a day.  

 I will be taking my measurements tonight before going to bed and will weigh myself in the morning.  I'm excited to try this. It seems like, on the average - everyone has lost about 8 lbs during the cleanse.

Ok - That is all for tonight... later gators!

Color Me Rad

So, Saturday I did the Color Me Rad 5K in Chattanooga and it was AWESOME! For not really training (all I really did was my Les Mills workouts - not really running) I didn't do too bad. I averaged about 13 min. miles - I finished in about 40 minutes.  I'm okay with that since I haven't ran that much in a long time. I pretty much ran the first half completely. I did have to stop to fix my headwear once. I walked when I drank my water at the turn around point - and then ran/walked the rest of the way.  I probably could have ran a little more than I did...  Anyways - here are some pictures....

Beforehand with my race twin - we totally didn't plan this!

Mid-race. I got covered in pink! (Thankfully it's my favorite color) I still have some pink dyed skin. 

I finished and feel wonderful!

 It was so nice to have Aiden there to cheer me on! Adam said he wanted to run so bad... so looks like the next one we may try to do as a family!

  

 This is one of the color bombs at the end

 My team from work "Live in Color" afterwards

I really do enjoy the run. I need to do more of it at home!!

skipper

i skipped the gym today....

i feel like crap! i shouldn't have skipped - but i needed some family time.  i will do some extra at the gym tomorrow - running on the treadmill and then my BodyFlow class at 6:45pm.

i'm just 4 lbs away from my next reward - pedicure!

i am going to do the advocare 10 day cleanse - i should have my stuff next week. I ordered from Skinny Meg - so you can email her if you are interested in more info.

my Berry 5k didn't happen.  it rained and poured and thunder and lightning. the thunder and lightning kept pushing the race back... and then all the rain caused it to be cancelled because parts of the trail were flooded.  rumor has it that there were some areas where you would be up to knees. not sure what is going to happen - if they will reschedule or what. we are supposed to get an email this week.

this weekend is the Color Me Rad 5k - can't wait! it should be tons of fun.  i need to get some more runs on my calender!

Run Disney

So I have this goal line up on my closet in my bedroom.  For each 10 lbs I loose I get to reward myself with something on my list... It starts off with a manicure (already done) pedicure, massage... there is also rewards of a new work out shirt - once I hit 50 lbs. off  I'm going to get this bracelet from Adeline Mae

*but with a 50 - not a 20*

My reward once I hit 90 lbs... a trip to Disney World. I just can't wait to take Aiden!  This reward was Adam's idea - because he know I wanted to go so bad.  I thought it was perfect.  Well I just told Adam that I wanted to amend my 90 lbs reward.... I don't just want to go to Disney - I want to do the Disney Princess half marathon!  In February 2014!! 

So - I'm putting this out there - I'm gonna do it!! Anyone want to join me??

feeling great

i'm feeling so good and so happy with how i'm doing on my journey... i'm a little up in weight - but my official weigh in isn't until wednesday morning.  it's also my measurement day :) i have a good feeling about these measurements - last month i lost about 5" overall.

i've had so many comments on how i'm looking - really makes you feel GREAT!

i've been reading Mama Laughlin and Skinny Meg - they are both so inspiring and have great tips! they just completed a 10 day cleanse - i think i have decided to try it out... it's just supplements to help clean out your body and then you eat clean. i'm hoping that it will help me to cut sugar from my diet along with other processed yummy goodness. i want to eat better and healthier.

totally haven't been doing my meditation like i want to... maybe i can start late.

this weekend i'm doing the berry 5k - my last 5k was 4 years ago and it was the berry 5k :) i'm looking forward to it. and then the following weekend i'm doing the Color Me Rad 5k with people from my work up in chattanooga. that is going to be FUN!!

okay folks - it's getting late and i need my beauty sleep!

rough weekend

this past weekend was my son's birthday party... not so great on the food scale and no exercise at the gym... just active with my son... and we still have cupcakes and other goodies still in our house! need to try to stay away! i gotta get them packed up tomorrow.  i will be back to the gym tomorrow - adam is gone to valdosta for training, so aiden will go from one day care to another so i can get my workout in.... time for the mommy guilt to slip in... (it's just a week - well 4 days) i'm trying to get to work earlier in the mornings so that i can leave work by 4:30.

a friend commented on one of my pictures from this past weekend that i need a new pair of jeans because i was swimming in the pair that i was wearing. YAY!! although i can't be buying new clothes every 10 lbs gone so it'll have to wait a bit more.... but i did have adam dig out my smaller clothes so that i can hang up my skinny jeans to help motivate.

tomorrow i start a 21- day meditation challenge. i'm excited. i used to meditate every night when i was losing weight the last time. i think it's going to be good to get back into it.

happy presidents day!

today was a pretty good day... i was off work for presidents day.  adam went to work and aiden went to day care and i went to the gym!  i got on the arc trainer for about 30 minutes..... LOVE that machine!

and then i took RPM (Les Mills version of spin)  i haven't taken a spin class in over a year... but it wasn't bad at all... i actually really enjoyed it - i really wish they had spin at night other than tuesday and thursdays (BodyPump days) 

i'm pretty pumped that i've lost 12 lbs in the past month! i know that it's going to slow down now - but that is okay.  i know that i am doing this the right way - the healthy way - and i'm fine with that.  

Eating

So, I've been doing this for a few days now - counting my calories with the help of My Fitness Pal and working out with Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred.  I'm doing okay.  I'm still allowing myself treats within reason.  Weekdays are SO MUCH easier than weekends. I want to splurge on the weekends. When I'm home all I want to do is eat! So I try to stay busy as much as possible.

I have my weigh-in for work on Wednesday.... I'm looking forward to it actually.  I know that I know what I'm doing and I'm going to succeed at it.

I'm back....

with a VENGEANCE!

I have found my motivation once again and I'm going strong! We are doing a competition at work with the Center Managers and other Admin staff - always a plus - and for me, competition helps!!

I have started tracking my calories with My Fitness Pal and started Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I am also training to run another 5k - Color Me Rad - on March 30th in Chattanooga! I just registered - can't wait!!

So I have my starting weight... I have 90 lbs to lose to get to my very first ULTIMATE goal... and then I'll re-evaluate to see if I want to lose any more. I have made myself a goal tracker - for each 10 lbs lost I will reward myself with something (mani, pedi, new workout shirt, etc.)

I also have my 30 day shred tracker to make sure I keep it up!

i'm down 5.4 pounds in about 2 weeks!

went to another nutrition class at the gym today - this one was about metabolism - it was a good class - i always get so motivated after something like that... now to keep it up!!

my biggest obstacle - my new schedule keeps me very busy and i forget to eat. i need to set an alarm to remind me to eat - so i don't get too hungry and over eat later.