Bringing Sexy Back...

Okay, I'm making my way back to the gym! I'm pretty happy with that! I'm not going to lie, ten extra pounds does not make the elliptical any easier! Here's a "cheers" to getting those ten pounds off as soon as possible! I can't keep these pounds on and I can't get them off quick enough! I just feel uncomfy and that's just the worst feeling in the world. But my ass is in gear. Hopefully some lunges and squats will kick it into a higher and firmer gear. Summer is just around the corner and I'd like to show off. The moments that women love when it comes to their bodies are those moments when you're happy bathing suit shopping and when you're happy stark naked. I'm bringing sexy back. Indeed, sexy left for the winter.

Besides getting my ass to the gym, there are other things I need to do to keep the ball rolling on bringing sexy back.

I need to walk my dogs. Poor Stella hasn't even been on a leash. I'm pretty sure she'd absolutely love it. She loves being outdoors and just running like a crazy kid. And Luna has become a fatty. Shhhh, don't say it to her face, she'd be really upset about it, but she's become a chunkier like her mom has for the winter. My pups like to follow my lead. We all need some motivation.

I need to not eat at work. Ever. Stupid menu changes are so damn tasty and I can't help but indulge. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I can't wait for the change in the weather. Why does nice weather always just feel extremely motivating? Maybe I should have followed one of my best friends to Florida or California. Hmmm. The nicer weather just sounds so fabulous. The idea of being in a bathing suit three hundred and sixty five days of the year is definitely motivating. Maybe someone I know needs to move to Hawaii. At least I always have great vacation destinations. But I'd rather just have my friends closer.

It's a Saturday and I'm off from work. I have no desire to go out. I have no desire to be social. All I want to do is watch some old movies and some soaps and drink really crappy, fabulous wine and take a melatonin to fall asleep early. How very Marilyn Monroe of me.

Motivation. Motivation. Motivation.

I gotta bring sexy back and better than ever.

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...

I Just Feel the Love...

I'm just a sentimental fool I tell ya.  I'm really loving this Valentine's Day thing.  Today couldn't have been a better day.  As I was getting ready to hit the gym the doorbell rang (thinking it was the UPS guy just dropping off a package, I didn't answer it) then a second ring, made me go downstairs and answer.  The hubby was too cute.  He knows I don't need flowers, so this year he bought me an edible arrangement.  How perfect.  Chocolates just won't do with Aruba right around the corner.  In fact, I think he knows to never buy me chocolates because they wouldn't last longer than the five minutes it would take to pick them out!  I just can't stop when it comes to chocolate!

With a huge smile on my face, I had a great workout.  I was complimented at the gym by the 70 year old man that loves me there.  He told me how fabulous I looked by saying he thought Miss America entered the room as I stepped up to the elliptical.  I mean how can your day go wrong when it starts off like that?  Edible arrangement and I'm Miss America?  Ok, I mean, it's a stretch but it was a pretty good line for a 70 year old.  

My hubby likes to eat early.  So, of course he made a reservation at Peter's for 5 p.m.  I made fun of him for at least a week by saying, "So, we're going in for the early bird special huh?"  —his comeback, "It's Valentine's Day, there won't be an early bird special."  But we do like to eat with the 70 year olds. It's weird because we don't have the 8 p.m. bedtime though.

Is this a running theme in my life?  Gosh, I am old.

It was nice to see one of my friends there too; on top of running in to at least five people that come in to my restaurant.  The hubby kept asking, "who's that, who's that", every time someone said hello.  He was a little disappointed because we both ended up deciding on the same meal.  He loves to pick off of my plate and get a little variety.  But we both couldn't get enough of the food.  I think going to Peter's is our Valentine's Day tradition.  I like having traditions.  I didn't even eat that much, but I'm pretty sure, two hours after dinner, that I'm still in a food coma.  

We didn't go crazy on gifts this year.  I made the hubby a photo calendar and he bought me the edible arrangement and a shirt I've been wanting for months, but it's been sold out.  He bought it from a Victoria's Secret in Indy.  He's crazy. 

I just loved being able to see the one I love on Valentine's Day.  It pretty much makes every day a better day.  

How did you spend your Valentine's Day?  I hope it was fabulous and you got to say, "I love you" and hear I love you.  I hope it gave you chills.  Doesn't it just feel so amazing when you know the person feels it to the core just like you?  Love is definitely in the air.

Exhausting...

This weekend was just too jam packed with things to do.  That whole saying, "there's just not enough hours in the day" definitely fit my entire weekend to a tee.  

I've been working on a website for my job for awhile; since it needed to be done for Monday when we release our new menu, I felt a tad overwhelmed.  (I really try to make this blog about anything and everything BUT my job because I spend way too much time thinking about it already, but it's the reason that I've been MIA).  We had a staff meeting to introduce the new items and address other issues, I helped with menus, took photos, and edited photos... I'm tired of looking at a computer screen.  Isn't that ironic, as I sit here and blog?

I lost a ton of sleep on Friday because of my stress levels.  I thought to myself that I shouldn't take a melatonin to help me sleep because I didn't want to feel groggy the next morning, but instead I had about an hour of tossing and turning sleep.  I even resorted to the couch because the hubby started snoring, but only Luna fell asleep, I just laid wide awake.  

So instead of moping around I hit the gym hard after a night of not sleeping.  I've been completely motivated by friends, customers, and family members loyal support.  The hearing, "You look great D", or "Good job I can tell you're doing something, you look awesome," is really keeping me on track.  Hearing a stranger or two tell me I have great style while I was in the check out line also doesn't hurt. 

I think I'm exuding some sort of confidence I never thought I would ever have.  Hopefully, it stays that way.  But hopefully, I'll also learn to use my workouts as a way to de-stress from my day or mentally prepare myself for my day, instead of keeping that pent up tension that I have from the daily goings on in life.  I'm still learning here people.

I did have a nice lunch with my Dad, which has been long overdue.  It was a nice tradition that we picked up for a good year, that I was happy to have back again.  He's been having a hard couple of weeks and I was happy to listen to him vent.  He lost his brother and is a little stressed.  Sorry to say I didn't know my uncle, or any of my father's family really, but I hate to see anyone I love sad.  

After an unexpected, huge, busy, day at work on Saturday, I was totally prepared for a huge Super Bowl Sunday, only to have it completely flop.  Oh well, I guess when a local team is in the big game, everyone decides to keep game time at home to stay safe.  There's always next year, right?

I'm looking forward to Monday so much.  I love Mondays.  A little work, a little guitar, a little me time, and a lot of home time with my family.  Basically, a lot of what I love.  Happy Monday everyone!

I'm Up, I'm Up...

Those were usually my famous last words to my mother before I nodded off again when I was suppose to be getting ready for school.  It's almost ten years later and I'm still doing the same thing.  I think that to myself every time the alarm goes off, and I push the snooze button.  The hubby and I have a horrible sleep schedule, but in the past week and a half it's been affecting my workouts as well.  Going to bed at 4 a.m. doesn't really equal wanting to wake up and hit the gym.

google images

I need to get back into my morning workout habit and start getting motivated to greet the sunshine again.  I love being able to say that 9 or 10 a.m. is early for me.  I have to admit, it feels pretty good to feel the sunshine.  I can't wait for spring!

I came across this article while looking for my favorite Marilyn Monroe workout picture.  How perfect.  I still think it's funny that people insist Marilyn was fat, when in all actuality she died weighing 117 pounds.  The photo below was part of her last photo shoot she took before her death.   

Oh well, I guess you'll never change the minds of women who really want the ideal American woman to be larger than she actually was.  Yea she had curves, but curves aren't a bad thing.  I wish I had curves like her!  She was tiny for 5'5!  

Anyway, off to the gym I go!  What inspires you to keep working out?  How do you stay in shape?  Any star that you idolize? 

So About this Working Out Thing...

I'm kinda giddy about working out.  It's weird.  I have a true love hate relationship with it.  I always have. But even though I hate the idea of going to the gym and the idea of waking up to go and workout, I have to say, I pretty much love it when I finally get my start.  

I've worked out before.  I've gotten some results before, but i've never had definition.  I've definitely lost weight before (and then gained it back) but I've never ever, had results before that I'm truly proud of.  I'm very proud of myself.  It's been almost a year of going to the gym (April 1st) consistently and of doing weights.  I've fought my hubby for years on the whole weight lifting thing—"weight lifting is for guys" or "I don't want to bulk up"... pretty much any excuse to lose weight by just doing cardio and cutting my eating in half.  

I've lost weight before.  But never like this.  

I'm not there yet, but I'm halfway there.  I'm pretty damn proud of the fact that I'm actually getting cut.  So here's my official, I'm sorry, to my hubby.  You were so right.  Lifting weights really is the key to getting big results.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would have definition in my stomach or wear a Victorias Secret bikini.  I've got more work to do before I rock this in Aruba, but I'm almost there.  And today is my official start of Ab Ripper X.  So I'm expecting to be seeing amazing results by then (I have this really hot friend that swears by it).

I can't believe I'm putting this online.  But I'm damn proud.  Even if I'm not there yet.

Organic...

I've read the books— The Omnivore's Dilemma and Fast Food Nation. I've heard the voices in my head telling me, "EAT ORGANIC!"— but for some reason, even though the majority of the food I buy is organic, I still sneak in the non-organic and the un-pure.

I can't help it. I work at a restaurant. I grew up on Snickers and Doritos. I just can't help but sneak in those bad foods when I'm down in the dumps. Actually, thinking about it, I haven't had Doritos in probably about five years. Crazy isn't it? ... I can't help but want hot chocolate at work sometimes with tons of whipped cream on top. I can't help but want to eat some grilled chicken with cheese. These things wouldn't be bad in moderation, but I have a tendency to go a little overboard once I start the ball rolling. But I've been pretty good. At least I thought I had been. Tonight the hubby and I watched Food Inc. and I think we both had an eye-opening viewing experience.

I've never really pushed the hubby to eat organic. I may suggest it once in awhile, but to see the difference that organic can make, it's kind of incredible. I rarely eat red meat, but I'm pretty positive that red meat is off of my food list forever! And my chicken that I have at work, yeah, that's done too. The antibiotics, the growth hormones, everything that the industries use to make more money are killing us...

It's crazy. I've read this. I know this. But sometimes it really is true when people say seeing is believing. I believe that I want to live a long healthy life with my hubby. Thankfully we've got the local herb shop and shop rite is stocking up on lots of organic food.

I've known that I needed to do this for awhile now... Organic or local farming is the only way to go.

Along with this new healthy revision to our life, the hubby and I have also started personal training sessions together. It was a lot of fun and definitely nicer then just sitting on the couch (although I love our cuddle time!)— it's just an hour out of our lazy Monday's together, but it's a great step in the right direction. He needed a change in his workout routine and I needed a reason to workout on a Monday when all I want to do is cuddle with him on the couch. I can already feel the pain.... and I love it!

Can't wait to workout tomorrow

One Month Till the Wedding!

One month till our wedding and I'm on such a perfect path to losing the weight I want to before the big day.  I'm at 151 right now, by the big day I'd like to weigh 145-140.  For me, that's a size 6.  A size 6! I haven't been that size since I was 16 and this time, I'm actually doing it the right way.  Eating right, mostly a diet of protein, fruits and veggies and lots and lots of exercise.  Jen Murphy is a miracle worker.  My body is changing so much and I love looking at myself in the mirror right now.  I can do pull up crunches with ease now.  Crunches are getting easier and easier.  Squats are like nothing now.  The pain is getting easier to bare after my workouts and I feel so energetic.  I'm following Jen's recommendation of making sure I have protein everyday.  I take this protein called New Whey.  It's basically like a shot of liquid.  Not like a needle, it's like a shot of alcohol- but doubled.  It's the easiest way for me to get my protein in and I can drink it right after my workout or keep it in my pocketbook and drink it quick at work.  It's the easiest way for me to get it in- and I don't have to get out my blender or drink some nasty thick shake.  I love this protein.   Check it out.  

Today was my wedding dress fitting.  It was amazing.  The dress is big on me, but they don't want to take it in until my next fitting on September 12th because they don't want to take it in more than once.  My veil was almost finished and my hair clip is amazing.  I'm beyond cloud 9 right now!  Unfortunately, losing this weight has also caused me to lose a lot of my boobs.  It sucks, but I'd rather be thinner with a smaller chest then big with a bigger one.  If the fat has got to go, it can go from anywhere on my body, I'm not too particular.  I can't wait for my next fitting!  So much to look forward to... 30 days!  I'll officially be a Mrs.  

So Jen is adding a Wednesday and Friday afternoon class to her schedule once the kids go back to school.  A 1 pm class is perfect for us night working girls.  That means I might be able to get in 4 days a week with Jen.  I love it... I think I'm getting obsessed with working out.  This is a nice addiction.  I'd rather love this than my obsession with food.  Life is good...