How I Spend My Saturdays...

One of my goals for this year was to start focusing on things that I've been putting off.  Usually, I sleep in on my Saturdays and spend it like this...



Last year I wanted to really get my butt in gear with working out, and I did.  It feels great.

This year, one of my goals was to start swimming again.  I've been missing it.  I use to love swimming. Throughout college it was my choice workout.  I wanted that again.  So, for the past three Saturdays I've been getting up and going swimming.

I was actually nervous about stepping into the pool again.  I didn't want to look like a fool, although, to most, I do because of the swim attire... 







But I didn't want it to feel awkward.  I didn't want to feel like I haven't swam in two years.  Two years! I debated on doing it for the entire half hour drive to the pool.  I sat in the car trying to convince myself to just go back home.  But I got my butt out of the car and into the locker room.  I needed to do this.  I needed to swim.

The first time felt great.  It was amazing to feel my body in sync again.  It feels so natural to be in the water.  I feel weightless.  I feel graceful.  I feel as close to perfect as I could possibly ever get.

The first two weeks I didn't do my turns.  I was scared I couldn't still do them.  It was like the first time I was taught.  I've always loved swimming, but I didn't learn how to do all the bells and whistles until I was 21, I still don't know it all.  I was scared I was going to hit the wall.  I was scared I was going to knock myself out.  I was scared of that feeling you get in your head when water gets in your ears.

My third swim this past Saturday I had my earplugs of choice in and got in the pool.  I didn't think about it beforehand.  I didn't plan on trying my turns.  But my first lap down, I decided half way that I was going to try it. Who cares if I looked like a fool!  So, I went for it.  And it was perfect.  It was like I never stopped swimming.

I wanted to cry.  It felt amazing.  I felt so accomplished.  I felt like I could still call myself a swimmer.  I felt my body in motion.

I swam for an hour.  It felt like ten minutes.

I'm a swimmer.

No, I will never be amazing.  I'll never have the perfect stroke.  I'll never be the fastest person in the pool or the most graceful.  But I always feel like I am.

Goggle Eyes!

I like this setting goals for myself thing.  I think it could actually work.  I think I could learn to love being a person that keeps their word when it comes to settings goals and raising the bar.

Hopefully, I'll tackle more items on my list...

Remember That Procrastination Thingy...

Yea, well my procrastination has finally kicked me in the ass. I apparently had two papers due today for my feature writing class and I only did one. Yes, it was on the syllabus, but we deviate from the syllabus so much that I honestly didn't think anything else was due except for the paper we talked about last week in class. Oh well, I'm allowed to slack a little right? I can't do everything on time. I'm the laziest busy person I know. I want to be lazy so bad, but I just can't find the time to do it! Although I did find the time to sleep in today after leaving work at 1 a.m.- sometimes sleep really is the best medicine (well, that and cuddle time with the hubby)

11:30 a.m.- Woke up to my husband taking a shower and getting ready to leave for work early. He had to pick up the dry cleaning that I dropped off the other day. Today was his first day of his winter uniforms (perfect timing by the way, today was also our first day of snow!)

I, of course, had my favorite breakfast in the world, two apples (yes, I'm addicted, but it could be worse) with fresh almond butter. Peanut butter just doesn't cut it anymore, and Soon's Orchard makes the best- just almonds, no oils, no salt, no sugar- just all good stuff.

12:30-1:30- Picked up around the house and made the bed (a little obsession I have before I leave for the day- as long as the hubby isn't still sleeping). I had to print out the paper that I had done for my class too- then I checked my school e-mail and noticed that she mentioned the assignment that I didn't do. By that point it was just too late to even think about it.

1:30-2:55- Drive up to New Paltz listening to my new favorite artists- David Nail and Joshua Bell- two artists that I don't think could be more different, but nonetheless I love them both. David Nail I heard from awhile back but I just newly discovered his album. Jonathan Bell is discovered from an article in The Washington Post and I had to listen to him. Amazing.

3:05-4:30ish- Feature Writing class where we watched a PBS video on the change of media. A little dated even though it's from 2007. Now I have to write a paper on the video for Monday's class. She let us out early again. I'm not complaining or anything, but driving up there in the snow sucks, especially when the class isn't as long as it's supposed to be. I think I'm the only college student to complain about leaving class early.

4:30-6:50- I talked to my mom on the drive home. I love her so much and I miss her even though she's only 10 minutes away. When I'm in school I just have no time and it sucks. I try to have as many moments with her as possible- she better know how much I cherish them. She was telling me how to make a chicken pot pie for the hubby. I found a recipe that was just so detailed and I didn't have time for it. Thank God for mom and quick recipe fixes. You gotta love how working moms always know how to make good food quick. Made it to Shop Rite and the liquor store (I was out of my favorite wine, I always like to have it in my fridge just incase I'm in the mood). Grocery shopped- my favorite thing, as long as I'm not hungry, otherwise I go crazy.

7:00-10- My best bud came over to go to her first Jen Murphy class. I was really afraid that she wouldn't come, but I so badly want her to get motivated so I was glad that she showed up. As always Jen kicked ass and my friend Trish will definitely be feeling it tomorrow. But she will love Jen and I are her wedding day! After the hour class we sat around the kitchen table talking about the upcoming wedding and looking at pictures of what my dress will look like. It's cute, so I'm actually not dreading it! I can't wait to see her in her dress! We're getting so old! Married women, who would have thought it.

After cooking my hubby's pot pie and cleaning up the kitchen, I'm now relaxing with the him (he got out of work late, so he didn't go to the gym) oh, I'm so upset about it too haha. Now I've got to get moving on sending out some e-mails in order to get an internship. I'm hoping to stay local. Here's hoping that I get the chance. Maybe I should try to play catch up on my school work too. I have to send out some e-mails to teachers too for my interviews for my investigative reporting class. So much to do. So little time. Oh well, I guess I'll go cuddle instead. I need some hubby time. He's what keeps me sane.

Back into the Swing of Things

I cannot believe that it's been a month since I've blogged! But my life has definitely been in a whirlwind in the past month; I've been busy, very busy. On September 21, my husband and I got married! Officially. The wedding was perfect. In one word, it was just perfect, there is nothing else to describe the day. I never thought that a day could honestly be as magical as our wedding day was. Not one thing would have been changed- from the flowers, to the dress, to the music, to the candle-lit tables, everything was perfect. Surprisingly, I wasn't crying throughout the entire day- I was composed and giddy. I've never been happier in my life. It was a day to be enjoyed and a day that we'll both never forget. I will also remember, forever, the weight that I was on this day: 143 pounds! I have not thought of being under 150 pounds since I left my teenage years, so this accomplishment was more than I ever expected from myself. Not one time did I think, "do I look fat" or anything like that; not a negative thought was in my head. I've never felt more beautiful in my life. I want to weigh this weight 20 years from now- if we ever have a child, after I have the child, I want to weight 143 pounds. I've never felt better in my life. I wake up feeling sexy. My whole outlook on everything is changing- I feel so proud of myself for reaching my goal of weighing 150 pounds- but I actually beat it. I haven't weighed this little since I was 16- almost 10 years ago. My husband couldn't watch me walk down the aisle because he was getting so emotional; in the receiving line, after the wedding, he asked me to do a little twirl for him so he could see me in my dress... all he keeps talking about is me in "that dress!" what an amazing feeling! I know that on my wedding day I looked amazing and couldn't have felt better. What a feeling! I'll never forget this day.

Now I'm back to reality. After 3 weeks of no workouts, I finally went back to Jen, and oh how I suffered! Her thursday class kicked my butt and friday I was feeling all the aches and pains of her workouts, but I have to admit, it felt so good! I've missed that feeling. Today I had a session with Jen and again she kicked my ass. But I'm not complaining because I see the results and I feel the difference in my workouts- she says I've taken my game to the next level... what a compliment! Now I've got to get my best buddy motivated to lose weight too! She's getting married in July and I'm her matron (so weird to say!) of honor and she needs to get motivated to get into her beautiful wedding dress. So, here I am, a newly converted exercise girl and healthy eater, and now I've got to help my best bud. I know it's not going to be easy, but like me, she's got no choice in the matter but to get her ass in gear. So i'm going to be the angel on her shoulder telling her what to do- hopefully I can help her out. First step, Jen Murphy classes. She's such a motivation, so I'm hoping she'll motivate my friend too.

This weekend was Jen, pilates dvd's, and wii fit... I've just got to keep motivated, just like I have been. My mii on wii fit is now at "normal" weight and is looking skinny and trim. I'm at 22 percent body fat. I was at 28. I couldn't be more proud, but I think I said that already. Good things are always worth repeating. I can't wait to wake up tomorrow to some windsor pilates. As my nutritionist doctor has said, dedicate at least 10 minutes everyday to exercise and you'll never fall back to being overweight. With Jen at least 2 to 3 times a week and my wii fit and windsor pilates dvd's I can't fail. I never want to fall back to being overweight again. My husband can't stop looking at me, Oh what a feeling that I never want to lose! I just keep having faith that this feeling will never end.

Just Not Feeling Right...

Ok I've broken some rules when it comes to my stomach problems (IBS... at least that's what they think it is).  Let me explain...  For the past week since my last weigh in I've been feeling really cocky.  I do this all the time when I start losing weight.  I start feeling like I don't need to stick to a plan and I can do it on my own.  I know I'm wrong.  I'm always wrong with it.  That's why I never get to my goal weight.  I had at least 2 dunkin donuts coffee coolattas this week (skim milk no whip, as always)- this is rule number one with my IBS- NO COFFEE!  Then I ate cheese.  Not just a little bit of cheese, which doesn't hurt my stomach, but a lot of cheese.  Three times this week I had some mozzarella and some parm cheese.  It just tasted so good the first time, that I wanted it again and again.  That's rule number two- NO CHEESE!  So what happened this weekend?  I suffered from massive stomach problems.  Doubled over in pain and complaining and complaining.  It was, of course, my own fault, but I'll only admit to that here.  I had to take this nasty drink stuff (magnesium citrate) in order to help, but it's my own fault... Hopefully I've learned my lesson.

So today was another Jen Murphy day.  I talked to her a little about the pain that I've been in from the workouts and that afterwards I just have no energy to do anything.  It's getting frustrating because I want to workout three days a week to four or five, but it's really hard when all I want to do is sleep on the days that I'm off from working out.  I just need time to recover it feels like.  She thinks it might be the fact that I am on a calorie restricted diet.  She thinks that I need more protein after our intense workouts.  So I followed her recommendation today and took a protein shot.  I have to admit, I do feel a little better today.  But that might also be because we did a lot of pilates today and not as many squats and lunges.  We shall see tomorrow when I wake up-  we'll see how much pain my muscles are in.  The hubby and I went for a walk tonight too.  I have to admit, I absolutely loved every minute of it.  Unfortunately, he got bit up constantly, so I'm not really sure if they'll be a second go at it.  But, I did love it, so I might have to finagle my way into another night out with him like tonight.  Anything is possible...  Like me giving up cheese again- I did it for Lent, maybe I should try to give it up for good... 

Exhausted but it Feels So Good!

It's another rainy day in New York but thankfully my friend Trish and I were able to get a nice 5 mile walk in before it started to downpour.  It felt good.  I felt energized.  I'm feeling like everyday that I wake up, I decide that it will be a day that I will conquer.  I've been eating really well and my exercise is definitely on track.  It felt nice to walk for 2 hours and not feel like the end just wasn't coming fast enough.  When I first started walking that's what it felt like.  The moment I started, I wanted it over with.  I always wondered how much longer it was going to be before I could just sit back down and get to my second favorite past time: being a couch potato.  Now I honestly feel motivated.  I'm down 8 lbs since I've started this new plan: exercising and eating right at the same time (what a concept!) I'm loving it.  I love feeling like this weight struggle isn't going to beat me; I refuse to struggle with this anymore!  I refuse to be the girl with the pretty face who could lose a few pounds.  

The walk was nice.  I got to spend time with one of my best friends and I got a great workout in.  We came home, sat on my front porch drinking water and watching the rain.  It was a perfect day.  I love the smell of the rain and I love the feel of it.  I'm just hoping it can hold off until the nights so I can at least keep getting my workouts in.  Tomorrow is my first session with Nykki and Jen Murphy.  Can't wait to be in more pain!  Lovin it, Lovin it... 

Feeling Good and Starting to Believe it...

So another day with Jen Murphy.  Another day of feeling like the most out of shape person that ever lived!  But towards the end of the session I was able to do things that I couldn't last week.  Jen was proud.  I was proud.  I moved through the session pretty well.  Granted I won't be able to wash my hair tomorrow because of the pain my arms and shoulders will be in, but I'm loving it.  I'm going to start meeting with her twice a week: one session with Lori and the other with Nykki.  It's great because I'm getting twice the training for the price I would pay for one session on my own.  It's great motivation.

Another great motivator is my hubby.  The other day, as we were folding and putting away laundry, I caught him staring at me.  When I asked him why, he said, "everyday you get more and more beautiful.  The older you get the more beautiful you are.  You're becoming such a beautiful woman..."  He killed me with that!  He makes me feel so beautiful everyday, but hearing words like that just made me melt over and over again.  I'm a lucky woman.

As for my diet it's also going really well.  When I was up at my moms doing wedding invites and going through her hope chest (which is being passed down to me and will soon be refinished) I didn't eat anything that would trip me up.  My step father has always been a huge junk food junkie and being up at my mom's house is usually torture.  Instead I had a few pretzels, an apple, a banana, some strawberries and a fat free sugar free pudding.  Yea it's a lot but I was up there for hours and it beats eating badly.  I just got home about an hour ago and came up with a delicious way to eat my daily veggies.  Try it, it might sound crazy but it's so tasty:  Take some tomato, green pepper (or any veggie) and place them on a baking sheet with tin foil on it.  Put your oven on broil and then use some wish bone honey mustard spray (the spray dressings) and then put some parm cheese on the top.  Pop in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese browns.  It's a nice quick and healthy veggie snack that beats having a salad every day.  Enjoy!  I'm stuffed from it and can't wait to get some fresh veggies to try again.  Maybe I can get the hubby to eat it too, but it would have to be made with green beans, he hates tomatoes and peppers. I think I'm becoming a housewife, and I love it... how did this happen?!