A Reunion & A Plan!

Reunion

So last weekend was my 20th High School Reunion.  Sheesh.  How is it possible that I'm THAT old?  It just isn't, right? When I got to town I immediately hooked up with my HS BFF.  I tagged along with her all over town as we were in the parade, ran some errands, ate dinner with friends and then headed to the Pavilion.



This is me and HSBFF.  We were practically inseparable from the time we met in fifth grade when I moved to her elementary school until we graduated.  She is the most amazing person and when I'm with her, it is like time stood still.  <3



This was at the Pavilion Friday night.  It is a neat concept.  All the different classes having reunions have designated gathering spots inside, but basically the whole town shows up.  One thing I rediscovered about myself is that I don't remember much from high school.  Many of my friends were entertained as they watched me sputtering when I didn't recognize someone...which was constantly. 



On Saturday, I took a little tour of the town, driving by my old houses and schools and going out to the cemetery to visit the graves of my grandparents and sadly, some lost friends.  I'm struck every time I go there how many graves there are for young people.  I don't know if that is normal or just the tragedy of my hometown, but it makes me sad.  Saturday night was my reunion and we had fun with the photo booth!!



Most of my closest high school friends didn't come to the actual reunion for various reasons, but I hung out with most of these folks at one time or another.  At least I can say I knew ALL of the them as soon as I saw them.  :-)  Yes, my reunion WAS in a bowling alley.  That's how we roll.  I was also the only person there in a skirt.  What of it?  

I got home with three days to prepare for Chicago.  I would gripe about my brilliant planning, but it isn't like I could reschedule either trip.  It will all work out.  I did laundry last night and I will do so again tonight, then pack tomorrow.  No time for anything but work and chores, but it will all get done.  I will get back to my regularly scheduled life next Monday!!

Fresh Diet

I have been doing great with fitness lately, but my issue is my diet...as always!!  So, I was looking for something to help me.  I considered Weight Watchers because I know that it works, but basically it is just logging your food and staying within set Points...which is pretty much the same as logging your food and staying within set calories.  I'm not doing that, so I'm not sure that WW would be the right answer.

But what is??  As I was catching up on emails from the weekend, I noticed one from My Fresh Diet.  They were offering a 31 day plan at a deeply discounted price.  I had tried them through a 2 Day Groupon long ago but they were entirely too expensive for me to consider doing longer term.  The discount was significant enough for me to take another look.

Basically, it is a cross between Nutri-System and My Fit Foods.  Each night, they will leave the next day's food at my door.  There is breakfast, lunch, dinner, 2 side items and 2 snacks.  They are all freshly made/vacuum sealed and right-sized portions.  So you have the convenience of something like Nutri-System, but without the preservatives, more like the meals I love at MFF. 

I decided to give it a shot.  It is still quite expensive, even with the deep discount.  However, as we all know, if something works, it is worth it.  I will try the 31 days and see what happens.  If I lose weight, I might try another month.  If not, it will be on to something else.  But it is worth a shot. 

My biggest fear is that I won't like the food.  My tastes have really changed and expanded since being banded, so I think there is a good chance it will all be fine.  But obviously, if I don't like the food...it won't work.  My second biggest fear is that I won't do it.  That a perfectly planned meal will be there right in front of me and I will choose to eat crap anyway.  There is no one that could do anything about that but me. 

Y'all are going to have to help me be accountable to that!!

Band

The last problem that I have with starting this plan on 10/01 is that I'm too tight.  I kept thinking that it would all work out, but I have to face facts that the band is just too tight.  I can't eat "normal" food and I end up turning to sliders.  No bueno. 

I call a new fill center in Dallas that is much less expensive than my surgeon's office and they are supposed to call me back in the next couple of hours with an appointment time tomorrow.  The are 1/3 of the price of my normal place, they are half the distance, and they still do the fills under a fluoro.  It is at a medical facility and the fills are done by certified professionals.  I will be a Guinea pig for the locals and let you all know how it goes. 

I'm a little worried that this unfill will push me back to too loose, but that is just something I will have to deal with.  Being too tight is just not good for me and can lead to health problems.  This is what needs to be done.

You guys know how much I love a good plan, so here I go!!

See many of you ladies in Chicago in just a few days.  Can't wait!

Hugs!

Preparation is the Key

Let's start with an assessment of last week's goals, shall we?

1. Goal loss for the week - 1.8 pounds.  And I...drum roll, please...GAINED 2 tenths of a pound.  What the everloving f**k?  I will circle back to this in a bit.
2. Make good choices.  I didn't eat for three days, so I wasn't able to make many choices at all.  The weekend was a big fat bad choice all around.
3. CrossFit - Goal 3, Actual 4.  YAY!
4. Try yoga.  I went to yoga with Lizard on Monday and then I went myself on Sunday.  YAY!!
5. Organizing - I addressed everything in the closet.  I think all that is left is to go through the books and come up with the sketch for my dad to build the cabinets. 

Weight

I'm not sure what to do here.  I mean I KNOW what to do.  I apparently just don't want to do it.  I know that today, I feel 100x better than I did two Mondays ago.  The commitment to CrossFit is making my body stronger and it just feels good.  I have gained two pounds in those two weeks, but I don't feel like I have...if that makes sense. 

I'm a little concerned that I'm letting the scale control me.  I think I'm going to not keep track of my weight the rest of the month.  I need to focus on the habits, not the weight.  Usually I don't let the scale dictate decisions, but I'm not going to lie...right now I just want to eat cake.  ALL the cake!  But I won't. 

Choices

I will say that I'm proud of myself for not panicking Wed-Fri when I was having band trouble.  Now I have no idea if it was the weather or what, but I was fine on Tuesday, then BAM Wednesday I couldn't eat.  I was actually patient for once and it worked itself out. 

I honestly thought that the choices I made would have put me at a loss for the week.  And they didn't.  I don't know if not weighing will help me stick to better choices, but I guess I can give it a shot. 

This week feels too much like I just want to say NEVER MIND.  But I know I don't want that.  I will focus on fitness and let the nutrition catch up.

CrossFit

This is actually where the title comes in.  Yesterday after yoga, I felt nauseated.  I don't know if I'm just not used to it or if it was a reaction from the SEVEN mosquito bites I got (West Nile!!), but I just didn't feel good.  Plus I didn't sleep well Saturday night.  So during dinner, I decided to have a drink (unusual for me) and decided that I didn't have to go to CF.

BUT...I packed my bag and got everything ready as though I was going to go.  I told myself that if I didn't, it would be just fine.  But since I was prepared, I went and I'm SO glad I did.

We did squat balances today.  Any time I have the barbell over my head, I think it is difficult.  I did 3 rounds of 5 reps with just the bar (35#), 3 rounds of 3 reps with 45#, and 3 rounds of 1 rep with 55#.

We ended with 12:00 (:30 on, :30 off) kettlebell swings.  I used a 26# kettlebell.  THAT was rough!!

Sometimes I don't give enough credit to myself when we don't have big cardio days (like today).  But here is what we did for a warm up...which is pretty typical:

• 400m run
• 10 arm circles each way
• 10 trunk twists each way
• 10 push ups
• 5 inch worms
• 40 high knees
• 40 butt kicks
• 25 jumping jacks
• 10 air squats

Now that isn't a ton, but pre-CrossFit, that would have been a workout for me.  So, I need to give myself some credit.

Yoga

I liked yoga and I think the stretching will really help me.  I'm going to try to go, but Sundays are hit and miss.  I won't be able to even try it again until October. 

Organizing

It is amazing what you can get done when you do a little at a time.  I have really been ignoring this room and in two weeks, I will have it completely sorted without feeling like I took up too much time.  YAY!! 

I think that I'm going to try and stick with this type of goal.  Let's see how much I can accomplish before I get tired of it!

New Goals:

1. No weight goal for the week.
2. Make good choices.  This is always going to be a goal for me.  Sometimes I'm just better at it than others.
3. CrossFit - 3x
4. Other fitness - 1x  (If I do anything while I'm traveling, it is bonus!)
5. Organizing - I want to finish the sketch for my dad and one shelf of books tonight.  I have a play tomorrow night and my first Citizen's Fire Academy on Thursday, so I really only have tonight and Wednesday...plus I need to pack.  So if I get 4 shelves and the sketch done, I will be happy.

I'm not sure how this post reads, but I'm actually really happy for a Monday and I FEEL great.  If I fit into my clothes, I would be ecstatic.  I gotta keep that in perspective.

Monday hugs!

Badass

I loved this picture and wanted to share.  Even though I felt like crap yesterday, going to CrossFit four times in one week makes me feel like a badass.  (Watch out, got a badass over here...)  I look forward to October when I can work on going more.

Yesterday sucked.  I'm so tight that even liquids can cause issue, though I can do water fine.  At the end of the day, I was able to eat a little something which was nice.  I just had my coffee this morning and I'm afraid today is going to be similar.  I wonder if it is the weather?  Since I was able to get nutrition and water, I'm going to give it until Monday.  If I'm still like this though, I will have to get some taken out.  But hopefully, it will get back to normal on its own.

CrossFit was great this morning, as usual.  We did overhead squats and push jerks.  Overhead squats are hard because you have the barbell above your head and it is a real balancing act.  As you squat, that barbell wants to move and knock you off balance.  I did 5 sets of 5 at 55, 60, 65, 70, & 75#.  It had been so long since I did a push jerk, I didn't even remember how.  I did 3 sets of 3 at 55, 75, & 85#. 

I saw this today and I thought it was an excellent comment.  I have A LOT of interests and most of the time, they eventually fall by the wayside.  But I'm committed to CrossFit right now and I like that.  I struggle with my food.  I always have and I guess I always will at varying degrees.  But I can fight from this angle too and it makes me feel powerful instead of helpless.

In the past, three days of limited eating would have been the perfect excuse to avoid working out.  But now?  I work out in the mornings, so it doesn't really feel any different.  No excuses!  And while I may have not lost a lot of weight yet, after just a few weeks back, I absolutely notice a difference in my body. 

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Hugs!

I talk a lot.

Goal Check

1. Goal loss for the week - 1.8 pounds.  Not only was I down the 1.8 pounds this morning, but I was down another .8 from that.  But I don't think it means very much...see below.
2. Make good choices.  I didn't make great choices yesterday, but then again, I couldn't eat.
3. CrossFit - 3 for 3 this week.
4. Try yoga.  Check!
5. Organizing - I didn't have anything planned for yesterday and I didn't do anything.  Today I would like to address the clothes hanging in the closet.

Tight is Bad

I'm still super tight.  I hate this so much I can't even tell you.  I can't even get my coffee down easily this morning.  Water I can do just fine.  In the past, I would call and schedule a small unfill because I just hate being like this.  I am not a patient person.  But I'm considering doing another day of liquids and seeing how it goes.  If I still feel bad tomorrow, I will go in.

At $150 a pop, I can't keep going in and out for little tweaks.  If I go in for an unfill now then that is how it is going to have to stay.  Bleh.  This is the band stuff that I know I signed on for, but I still hate!

I hope when I check in with you all tomorrow that I'm all better!

I had a hard time eating last night and I told them all about being stuck.  That brought up a whole other thing...

Oversharing?

Last night I had a really good time at my Ladies Night CrossFit Happy Hour.  I did figure out something about myself.  I know I have always been a very open person, but I think that in some ways, I'm using that as a shield. 

Let me explain...  I have always thought that there were two reasons that I'm so open about my Lap Band, weight loss, etc., but really, I think there are three.

1. I want to help people.  Whether someone directly could benefit from the Lap Band or they have a friend/family member that could, I want people to see what living with a band is like.  The good and the bad.  People need to make informed decisions without scare tactics OR sugar coating.  I know that I have directly affected the way people feel about gastric banding either for themselves or for a loved one. 

2.  I want people to feel free to ask questions.  I have gigantic scars down my arms.  I don't ever want anyone to feel like they can't ask me what is up with them, so I freely offer information.  That sometimes leads to #1.

Not everyone wants to share their personal lives with others and that is A-OK!  But this is right for me.  However, when talking to a CF friend last night, she asked me if she could ask some questions and I told her (of course) that I was an open book.  She said that I had hinted at past things and so she wanted to ask about them.

I certainly didn't mind telling her anything at all, but it made me wonder how I bring it up on a regular basis.  I think I have realized that I talk about it (especially at a place like CF) for a third reason:

3.  I don't want people to think I'm lazy, fat or bad at things.  So by telling everyone or reminding them constantly about where I started, it somehow makes me feel better.  They won't think I'm lazy or fat if I tell them I used to weigh almost 300 pounds.  They won't think I'm bad at this if they understood that just 3 years ago I couldn't even walk a full day without pain patches on my feet. 

I'm not upset at myself, because I think it is valid.  But I have to stop apologizing for myself.  As I sat last night and listened to a few of the girls talk about there healthy Paleo diets, I knew that I'm not like them.  Not in a good way or a bad way...just different.  I made the comment that even though I know it isn't the CrossFit philosophy, I know that if I were naturally skinny, I probably wouldn't work out.  I thought they were going to choke on their drinks.  :-)  Now don't get me wrong, if I all of a sudden got skinny now, I think I would still work out.  But if I started out that way, I just don't think I ever would have gone the workout route.  That route BEGAN because I wanted to lose weight.  I have a shitty relationship with food.  It is better than it used to be, but I'm guessing it will never be normal. 

I am not naturally skinny and I have a shitty relationship with food, so I do work out.  I work out more than the average person.  But I hang out with people that work out more than me so I often start feeling like I"m less than.  I have to remind myself that I have a great balance to my life.  I work out, I work, I have fun and there is nothing for me to feel guilty about or apologize for.  I do want to stress that none of these girls make me feel this way...this is an internal thing that I have always struggled with and I'm just starting to break through and conquer it.

I will work on fighting the urge to justify myself at things like CF by bringing up my band and weight loss and focus on talking about it when I truly think it would be beneficial to others.

Sleep is Good

I slept like a log last night and it was AWESOME!  Just an extra hour of sleep and I feel so much better.  I think I will be good to go getting up for my 4th day of CrossFit this week.

Hugs!

Boring Days, Make for a Happy Me!

I know that a lot of blog posts are routine and boring these days, but I know you can tell from my tone that this routine makes me a very happy girl!

Goal Check

1. Weight loss goal - 1.8 pounds.  The scale isn't moving, but then again, I need to do better on #2.
2. Make good choices.  This all goes well until I'm home for the evening.  I have to keep snack foods out of the house.  I will make this the plan for next week, because I'm not doing a good job sticking to good choices when the bad choices are so close at hand.  I'm not proud of that, but there you go.
3. CrossFit goal for the week - 3.  Today, I'm 3 for 3 this week.  I''m going to try to stretch my goal and go on Friday.
4. Try yoga.  Check!
5. Organizing.  I set a goal of going through everything on the floor of my closet.  I did the very minimum to reach my goal.  I had hoped to do more, but there you go.  I'm not setting a goal for today, but I would like to be done with the organizing everything in the room by the end of the weekend.  I think I can do that!

CrossFit

CrossFit was super fun today.  The WOD was for completion, not time.  You went to each "station" and did your thing.

1. 5 Rope Climbs - well, I cannot climb a rope.  So I would sit on my butt and pull myself to a standing position using my upper body as much as possible.  I did that 10x.
2. 10 Atlas Stone Lifts from group to shoulder - I used a 93# stone.  I tried the 116#, but while I could get it in my lap in a squatting position, I couldn't get it rolled to my shoulder.  Maybe next time!
3. 20 Box Jumps - I used an 18" box which was tough for me, but I did it.
4. 30 Toes to Bar - I still can't even hang from the bar since surgery.  So I laid flat on my back holding a pole behind my head.  Then I would lift my toes up and touch the pole behind me.
5. 40 Kettlebell Swings (unbroken) - I used a 26# KB but I'm thinking I should have tried heavier.  It was tough, but I still think I could have pushed myself more there.

Fun class!!

What is Wrong With Me?

That was rhetorical and kind of a tease.  I'm just so darn content.  I honestly think if my wardrobe fit my current body, I would be fine to stay were I am.  I'm wearing an outfit that fits well today and after my workout, I feel strong and happy.  It is odd for me to feel content with my body which is why I keep wondering what is wrong.  :-)

I know I will be upset as I go into winter and can't wear anything, so I will continue to work.  If only I just hated food.  Life would sure be easier.

Bandy Band Band

I'm super tight this morning.  That should make for an interesting day.  I'm going to happy hour tonight with my CF girls which should be super fun, but I hate it when I can't eat in front of people.  And I can't drink without eating something.  Oh the weird challenges we face.

Hugs!

Getting on it!

I like the idea of doing something nice or good on 9/11.  I think that would be the perfect memorial...to make this day all about giving and charity (in its greatest sense.)  I'm not sure what I will do, but I pledge to do something.

Goal check:

1. Weight loss goal for the week - 1.8 pounds.  The scale is moving in the right direction, so I will take it.
2. Make good choices.  I logged my food yesterday and although I was absolutely under my calories burned, there are a couple things I could have done differently to do better.  I will make an effort to make those changes today.
3. CrossFit goal for the week - 3.  Today was my 2nd.  I'm actually going to try to go 4 times this week to give myself a little wiggle room to meet my goal of 3 classes each week in September. 
4. I went to yoga last night.  In public.  More to follow.
5. Organizing...I got home after yoga last night, had some dinner and sat in front of the TV.  About a quarter to nine, I kept thinking that I was bored.  Then suddenly I remembered that I hadn't done my organizing for the day.  I got up and did it!  I'm so proud of that.  Tonight, I have to do at least everything on the floor of the closet, but since I have some extra time, I'm going to tackle as much of the closet that I can.  The room already looks better!!

Yoga

I went with Lizard to yoga last night.  It was not a typical yoga class, but seemed to infuse more pilates and ab work.  It was not a "hot" class even though it was hot and I was sweating bullets.  Plus, it was REALLY crowded.  We were on the late side, so Lizard & I didn't get to be side by side which was fine.  But I didn't even get my mat and towel down in time and it was all messed up the whole time.  I had to focus to get myself to calm down and get into the class mode.

I felt good about what I was able to do.  The instructor corrected me a few times, but also told me my posture was excellent when we were balancing on one leg.  Woot woot!  Honestly, the worst thing for me was being within inches of other hot, sweaty bodies.  If there would have been more room, I think my like would have gone from a 6/10 to 8/10. 

CrossFit

There were 23 people there at 6am this morning.  Yikes!  That is A LOT of people.  I remember last winter when only one other person was there with me one morning. 

WOD was 5 rounds:  5 Back Squats, 10 Push ups, 5 sit ups.  The prescribed weight for the back squats was your body weight. ...  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  I might squat SOMEBODY'S body weight, but it ain't going to be MINE.  :-)

I went with 105# which was the heaviest I have done.  It worked out.  I actually had the hardest time with the sit ups.  I used to be so good at those.  I really need to work on my abs.  From the deadlifts and yoga yesterday and the sit ups this morning, the sides of my lower back are very sore.  Not in pain...just sore.  I should be good to go tomorrow.

FYI...our warm up run was 800m this morning and I totally made it!

Hugs!

There is no crying in CrossFit. Mostly.

Good Monday morning!!

There is no crying in CrossFit.

I'm starting with a bit of a different CrossFit story today.  It is Monday, so not easy to get out of bed for 6am class, but it was deadlift day.  I love deadlift day!  I'm strong and I like to lift.  I pushed the 3x800m runs that we had to do after deadlifts straight out of my mind and I got moving.

I realized this morning that after only about a month back at it, I notice that more eyes light up when they see me and I can feel mine doing the same.  It's funny how close you get with people when you work your ass off side by side a few times a week.  I had a new lifting partner today and she was nice.  I lifted 175# 5 reps, 3 times.  That is the amount I lifted the last time back in April, so I feel good.  Everything I have lifted since I have gotten back, I have met or exceeded pre-surgery weights.  It feels good to move forward so quickly!

Then it was time to run.  Bleh.  We took off on the first 800m.  I was so far behind after the first one, it was almost comical.  It took me 6:55 to run the first one.  I couldn't even keep a steady run, I had to walk short bursts about 3 times.  When I got back, I waited the required three minutes between runs and then went back out.  I was all by myself at this point.  I actually felt better this time and I ran the whole thing.  I had a slower time (7:13) than the first one, but I was proud that I ran it all.

When I got back from the second run, it was just me and the trainer.  I started singing..."i'm lonely...so lonely."  He giggled and just told me to keep at it.  Ha!  Most people finished by the time I was heading out for my last run.  As I did, a guest (a guy visiting from Baton Rouge) ran out with me and said "it's me and you, let's go!"  He was done with his runs.  And he chose to go out and run with me so I wasn't alone.  Wow.  He doesn't even know me.  That made me just a little verklempt. 

I couldn't talk after about 200m, but he understood and just kept pace with me.  He would push me a little, but back off when I fell behind.  We turned around at 400m and headed back.  As we approached 600m, I could see the class coming at me.  Crap.  Crap, crap, crap.  There's more.  I’m not done.  I started to panic, but what the hell.  If I could do 3x800m, then I could do more.  As they reached me, they turned around and started running with me.

There wasn't more.  They just didn't want me to finish alone.  I have tears in my eyes as I write this.  Not only did they run me in, they cheered and pushed me and I finished my last 800m in 6:47.  My fastest time of the day.  They did not have to do that.  Not even remotely.  But they were not going to leave one of their own behind.  And I AM one of theirs.  I am an athlete.  I am a CrossFitter.  Thank you Donut Crew.  You are changing my life.  :)

Goal Check

1. Lose 1.6 pounds.  I GAINED 1.8 pounds.  What the everloving f*ck?  Sigh.  It is possible it is water retention from the additional weighlifting.  But it is possible it is not.  My punishment or precaution (whatever) is that I have to log food this week.  My goal for the week is to at least lose what I gained this week.  I would like to lose more, but being realistic, I will leave it at that.
2. Make better choices.  Obviously how I did on this one is up for debate.  I thought I was doing mostly well, but my weight gain says otherwise.  Today, my plan is oatmeal for breakfast, soup with some cheese and crackers for lunch, and yogurt for a snack.  That should all be good choices.
3. CrossFit - last week I had a goal of three classes and I met it.  This week I want to go to 3 as well.
4. I am going to try yoga tonight if my friend can take me.  She is a member and can bring me as a guest.  If she can't, I will do some extra walking.
5. I finished my organizing goal last week!  YAY!!  Today, my goal is to go through every purse/bag in my closet.  I tend to leave junk in them and they need to be emptied before they are sorted.

I am obviously not very happy that I gained weight last week.  HOWEVER, I can say that I am feeling better overall.  I went back and read the first 6 months of my blog and I realize that it has always been a struggle.  There is no expectation that it should not be a struggle now.  I just have to keep at it eventually it will work out.

Hugs!!

Ready for the weekend!

Good morning!!

Goal check:

1. Goal for the week - 1.6 pounds.  That particular thing is not going well.  I'm actually up a pound.  I'm going to continue and push through and see if it is just water retention.  If I actually end UP for the week, I'm going to have to do something else on the nutrition side...like logging.  Booo.
2. I still feel like I'm making decent choices, which is why I don't understand the gain.  Maybe too many crackers?  I don't know. 
3. I went to CrossFit this morning.  3 of 3.  The three days in a row were tough, but doable.  Next week, I would like to attempt M, T, W, & F because I think the week of Chicago, it might be tough to get in 3x.  We shall see how it goes.
4. I ran 4 x 400m today.  It was SOOOOOOOOOO SLOOOOOOOOOOOW.  But I pushed through.
5. I reached my organizing goal yesterday of sorting through everything just outside the closet door.  (I swear it doesn't look like a hoarder's place, but there are a lot of stacks.)  Tonight, I would like to sort through what is on the desk.  This is actually a big thing to tackle. Additionally, over the weekend, my homework is to address everything else in the room that is not on a shelf or in the closet. 

CrossFit

It was my 100th class!!  Our WOD was 5 rounds of a 400m run and 15 snatches.  FIFTEEN is A LOT!!  In looking at what I have done before, I had done a workout with 30 snatches and used 55#.  There was no running that time, but I figure "what the hell".  55# is the lowest you can do without having to use the trainer weights and who wants to do that??  I'm a big girl.  :)

The real catch came when Bach said that there was a 20 minute cutoff.  Well, I knew that was going to be a problem because I figured it would take me around 15 minutes just to do the running part.  But I gave it a go.  The running is still going hard for me.  I don't know what the problem is.  I don't think it is mental, but maybe it is.  I just feel like I'm wheezing from the start. 

Anyway, as I came in from the 4th run, time was already up.  I went ahead and finished the 4th set of snatches and finished in 23:30.  So, the bad is that I didn't finish the WOD today.  However, the good news is that I ran a mile and did 60 (SIXTY) snatches at 55#.  I think that kicks a little ass.

Nightmare

Totally random.  Last night I was dreaming that I was watching these two guys talk.  Guy #1 was the lab technician at this medical/science lab and guy #2 was telling him that he needed to put in more security.  G1 ignored him.  Then it was night and I could see G2 breaking into the lab.  G1 was there and caught him.  G2 started to explain that he was doing it to show how easy it was to break in and why he needed more security.  G1 looked at the door and said that the break-in looked like the work of...[insert name of some famous thief, I can't remember what it was but I knew that it was a famous thief].  As G1 said that, G2 said it with him and G1 realized that G2 actually WAS the famous thief right at the moment that G2 snapped G1's neck.

WTF?  Seriously.  WTF?  This woke me up in a cold sweat at 3:30am and it took me about 30 minutes to get back to sleep.  A.  Where on earth did this come from?  B.  Why would it scare me?  Crazy.

Organizing Surprise

I was talking to my dad last night about my reward of an Ikea cabinet once I organize my spare room.  He offered to MAKE one for me!  I would just have to pay for the materials.  My dad has always been in construction.  In fact, he built a couple of different houses that we lived in while I was growing up.  Furniture making isn't his specialty, but he can certainly make something that would be very functional and custom for me.  YAY!!  It will be cheaper and I can make it exactly how I want it.  I just have to sketch it for him and give dimensions.

Now I just have to figure out what I want.  I have an awesome dad.  :-)

Hugs!!

TTT - Hey, I look Sporty!

1.  Goal check:

1. Goal for the week - 1.6 pounds.  No change on the scale so far this week, but I'm not discouraged!
2. I made mostly good choices yesterday.  After dinner snack was a little suspect, but not too bad.  Lunch ended up being tasty.  I'm hopeful for today's as well.
3. I went to CrossFit this morning.  2 of 3.
4. I walked for 30 minutes at lunch yesterday, but of it only 2 minutes were running.  The air was just too warm and still.  I figure that 28 minutes of walking is better than quitting, so that's what I did.  Better luck next time.  Plus, I did run some at CF today.
5. I reached my organizing goal yesterday and tackled the spot right outside my closet door.  In addition, I went through things under (yes, I said under) my desk.  Tonight it will be the stack of stuff on the other wall. 

2.  Today we did Front Squats and Push Presses at CrossFit.  I am very proud to say that I PR'd (personal record) on both.  I squatted 100# which was 5# more than last time.  I push pressed 75# which was also 5# more than last time.  YAY!! 

After the weightlifting portion of the workout, we did sprints.  Sigh.  For 10 minutes, on the minute, we would do shuttle runs (20m/40).  So, when Bach said "start", we would run 10m, turn and come back, then run out 20m and turn and come back.  Then we would rest until the next minute started.  So, 10 total.  I, of course, was SOOOOO slow compared to everyone else.  She would yell times for everyone as they crossed the finish line and I would hear them start around :15.  My first 9 times were :25-:27, so about 7-10 seconds behind everyone else.  For 10 agonizing times, there would be :07-:10 where everyone was done and looking at me amble my way to the finish line.  It sucks to finish last, but when you have to do it 10 TIMES in 10 MINUTES, it is a tad exceptional.  It should have been a humiliating experience.  Except...

...this is true.  Every single time, many of the crew would yell encouragement, clap, cheer, whatever.  And on my very last sprint, I made it in 24 seconds which was my fastest of the day.  I wanted to throw up, but I pushed it as far as I could.  There are some gyms where being that far behind is embarrassing...what a loser.  But here, I pushed it as far as I could and what I got back was respect.  That's why, even though I felt like I was in hell for 10 minutes this morning, I plan to go back tomorrow.

3.  The title comes from the fact that Bach told me I looked "sporty" this morning.  I laughed, but maybe I do look sporty in my tank and bright kicks.

4.  You know what's interesting?  My two nephews & niece all run cross country and track.  They have absolutely no issues trying to run.  Why did I get all the recessive running genes?  I'm so thrilled for them, but couldn't I have gotten just a little bit?

5.  On another note, I priced my ideal organizing cabinet and it costs almost $800 (just for the frame).  That doesn't include that boxes and such I would put on the shelves.  Wowza!  I might have to do some thinking on that, but at least I'm getting started. 

6.  I'm looking forward to the weekend.  I have some things to do, but it isn't overly stuffed.  Perfect!

7.  I'm getting my hair cut on Saturday and I'm really glad.  It needs it.  I have been growing it out for over a year now.  Snails pace!!

8.  I ordered my Olympic photo book last night and it is supposed to be here next week!  I thought that since I never did an Olympic post, when it comes in, I will scan a few of the best pages and do a post then.

9.  I'm going to see The Producers on Sunday.  Fun!!

10.  Trader Joe's Peaberry (I think) coffee is awesome.  I can't keep from drinking multiple cups.  Delish!

Hugs!!

Let's start this off right!

I realize that it is September 5th (Happy Birthday to my awesome godson!!), but it is really the first/second day to implement my little plan. 

1. Loss goal for the week - 1.6 pounds.  Deadline, Monday 9/10.
2. Make good choices.  I would say that I did that for the most yesterday.  I did have some kettle corn last night (darn Trader Joe's!!), but not too much and now it's gone.  Ha!  Today, I have a My Fit Foods meal for lunch and leftover pork loin for dinner.  It is all calorie/health appropriate, but I hope my lunch is tasty and not bland.  When my meal options don't taste good, I tend to supplement it.  My goal is to not do that today.
3. I went to CrossFit this morning.  1 of 3.
4. I'm going to run a mile at lunch today. 
5. Tonight, my organizing goal is to go through the stack of stuff right in front of my closet. 

I'm going to try to assess myself every time I blog to see if I can help keep myself on track this time. 

You know I'm not done talking about CrossFit... It was a great day today!  After 3 weeks back, the warm up is getting a little easier.  I still hate the running though and I know that we will have a running day coming up so I really need to get on that.  I am seeing more and more familiar faces each day now that I'm meeting the new people.  NSV:  I wore a tank top today.  One of the trainers told me he didn't know I had a tattoo (because it is always covered by my T-shirts.)  I didn't feel too self-conscious, but I was glad there were no pictures taken today.  Baby steps!!

The WOD for today, were 3-3-3-3-3 Hang Power Cleans adding weight each round.

When I looked up my previous weights, I noticed that I capped out at 95# pre-surgery.  I decided to just go for it and start at 85#.  There are only 3, right?  Right.  So one of the 3 Beckhams (there are 3 recent college grad girls that I believe played soccer that are ridiculously adorable and I call them the Beckhams in my head.  Hopefully I will be able to tell them apart eventually) came over to partner with me and I'm glad she did because I think it pushed me a bit.

I did the first round of 3 with 85# and that crap was heavy!  I decided to stick with it for another round.  On the 3rd and 4th rounds, I added 5 pounds each.  On the 5th round, I added another 5 pounds which put me at 100#.  I had never cleaned over 95# under any circumstances.  I did two (yaaaaaay!), but then I couldn't finish the third.  My arms were just jelly.  But still!!  I did something today that I have never done before.  I cleaned 100#!!!

Then it was time for the OTM (on the minute) Ladder (basically you do one of whatever is prescribed in the first minute, 2 the second minute, 3 the third...) which starts out easy but then gets hard fast.  Once you get to a round that you can't complete, you are done.  We had to do kettlebell swings and box jumps.  Learning from the last time we did this where I was done early, I picked the smallest box.  I picked out a 18 lb kettlebell which in retrospect was probably too light, but I just never know with the KB.

We started and I was fine.  At about the fourth minute, I realized that I couldn't sustain jumping, so I simply changed my box jump to a step up/step down.  It is easier, but I was still getting a tremendous amount of cardio.  I'm proud to say that I was part of the last group that capped out at the 15 minute round.  So I did 120 kettlebell swings and 119 step ups in 15 minutes.  Not bad!! 

If you made it through all of the boring exercise talk...  I'm so glad that I have my mojo back.  I don't like be "down" and for weeks...months, really...I was talking myself up every day and choosing happiness every day.  But I finally don't have to choose, because I just am.  It is nice to be back.

Hugs!!

Holiday Hiccup

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!!  I definitely did.  My mom came to visit and we always have fun together. 

Friday afternoon we did a little shopping.  Not a lot, but I promised her I would take her to Chico's so we spent a couple of hours at the mall.  I think only two things were purchased, so that's pretty good.  Then we met BFF for dinner at an English restaurant. 

Saturday we had a lazy morning but in the afternoon, BFF met up with us and we went to South Fork.  Are you a Dallas fan?  I never really watched so it didn't mean a ton to me, but my mom watched the 80s series AND watches the new one, so she really enjoyed it.  It was mind-numbingly hot outside.  After South Fork, we had an early dinner at Whiskey Cake which I was introduced to at a blogger meet-up.  Delicious!!  Then we went to Ikea.  That place is nuts!!

Sunday we went to church and then out to breakfast.  Then after a little rest, we went to see You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown put on by our local community theater.  They did a really great job!!  Too cute!  After, we went to dinner at Pluckers.  (You can see by now, I wasn't trying so hard with the "good" choices.)

Monday, after a lazy morning, we took a field trip to Trader Joe's.  Now I visited one in Chicago, but since I wasn't at home, I really didn't get much.  This time, I stocked up.  WAAAAAYYYY to many snack foods.  I'm not sure if I think it is a good thing that it is so far away or if I wish there was one closer so I wouldn't feel the need to buy ALL the food when I make a trip there.  Last night I grilled pork loin and veggies (creminis, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower).  Delish! 

All in all, we had a nice weekend and I think my mom had a nice time.

Now...in my quest to make good choices, I would give myself a "C" for the weekend.  Most of that is due to the fill I got earlier because I literally COULD NOT eat as much.  Friday & Saturday, I feel like I made better choices for the most part.  However, on Sunday and Monday, I did not make good choices hardly at all.  Thank goodness for the fill.  It got me though the weekend and this week with no gain.  No loss...but no gain.

1. I have 1.6 pounds to lose before I reward myself with some new tennis shoes, so my goal is to hit that this week. 
2. I will make good eating choices this week.  (Side note:  I ate a small horse yesterday and today I can barely get my SlimFast down.  WTF?  I know y'all feel me.)  I have leftovers and plenty of good choices of food.  I just have to make them and not fall into the trap of eating the snacks I bought over the weekend.  (Maybe I can freeze some of them...)
3. I will go to CrossFit W, Th, & F in order to hit my goal of going 3x per week. 
4. I need to get back into "running".  You know I use that term loosely.  But I need to get back to at least where I was before.  I plan to run 1 mile at 5mph tomorrow at lunch.  We will see how I do with that.  I will walk the rest of the time for a total of 30 minutes.
5. I will pick one organizing thing to do at home each day (see below.)

I have been wanting to change up my spare room and get more organized.  Usually, I just throw "crap" in the room to get it out of the way and now things are stacking up.  Visitors can barely wedge themselves in there.  During my trip to Ikea, I saw SO MANY options to help me organize my stuff.  However, my favorite options aren't cheap.  So, I told myself I need to earn it.

I have to organize the room first.  Even if it is in clothes baskets/boxes/etc.  Once everything is organized, I will earn my cabinet.  My aggressive goal is to do that by Thanksgiving when my dad is coming for a visit and he can help me with it.  That is 75 days away.  There is absolutely no reason I can't meet that goal other than laziness.  Time to get it done.

Hugs!