High Standards

Well I took a progress photo today and I’m very happy with it I must say!  I’m still at 119 and I’m feeling really good.  I had a pretty hard BodyPump workout tonight then I mowed my lawn in the 100 degree heat for about an hour afterwards so I am beat!  I also had a super stressful day at work dealing with a co-workers unprofessional childish comments.  I’m thinking of either working from home Thursday or taking a personal day.  I just need a break.  The month of dieting and hard exercise is starting to take it’s toll on me, which is expected.  You can only go so long on a super strict diet and a month is definitely pushing it.  I’ll see how I feel after tomorrow then go from there.  I know I won’t have much relaxation time this weekend bc we’ve got a wedding Friday night, visiting Jeff’s parents and sister and neice who are in town Saturday, and Sunday is my mom’s birthday and we’re taking her to Shogun to eat that night (YES, an actual reward meal!  no rice or noodles though, just chicken, shrimp, edamame, miso soup, and veggies for me!).  So I’m looking forward to it but feeling the need for a rest later on this week.

5 more pounds to go to reach my goal weight of 115!  It’s so close I can taste it!  There are 9 more days left of my super strict diet, then for 3 weeks after that I’m going to allow everything but starch and sugar back in.  Alcohol will still be in moderation and I’ll try to step up the exercise since I’ll be getting in more calories.  I am so happy with the way my body looks right now and I’m actually really proud of myself for sticking with it.  I’ve been on this diet for almost a month and there have definitely been some very tough days, but it’s all paying off in the end.  And the weight loss is really giving me the motivation to keep going and keep it off in the future, which is the toughest part, right?

I’ve worked out 6 days this week so far.  I just got back from BodyPump at the gym and I’ll probably mow the lawn and ride my bike tomorrow for some "active rest".  I’m actually missing a day out on the lake today because I didn’t want to be around temptation with food and alcohol.  It’s just easier to stay home and run errands and stick to my meal plan.  I’ve only got a week left so one weekend to myself isn’t going to kill me!  I think my boyfriend was a little sad that I wasn’t coming today though =(  Mostly he has been very supportive but it’s still really hard for me to watch everyone eat junk food on the weekends and drink all the time.  This has been a great lesson in discipline and self control.  I have definitely improved in those areas during this phase of the diet.

We’ll everybody have a great weekend, stay motivated and stay on track!  Hasta!

Things are going great!  I’ve been dieting, sticking to things like vegetables, chicken, shrimp, fish, melba toast, salad greens, spinach, asparagus, cucumber, apples, strawberries, and green & white tea and I have lost a ton of weight!  I’ve been exercising pretty consistently as well and gave up drinking, starch and sugar.  And let me tell you, it has made a huge difference!  I plan on keeping up with this for about a month until I’ve reached my goal (normal) weight of 115 and can stay there for a few weeks.

In other news…I’ve decided to pursue an MBA!  I’m officially studying for the GMAT and working on my graduate school application!  So once again, I’ll be pretty busy which means that staying healthy and in shape will be even MORE important now!  Perfect motivation, huh?

Wow, I haven’t written a post in such a long time!  So I should probably get back into that right?  I do need to hold myself accountable a little more.  For instance, this week I did fantastic with dieting and exercised 6 out of the 7 days…however, the diet went to sh*t the last two days with the holiday and I splurged way more than I needed to. 

I just got back from a very long, hot, humid run so hopefully that will counteract some of the holiday splurge session!  =)

I did average my calories and it came out to about 1950 for the whole week, which is over my goal but not by much considering how high it could have been this week!

I’ve started playing tennis again and taking lessons with my friends.  It’s a really fun summer workout and keeps you pretty in shape!

I’m throwing a big birthday party for my boyfriend this weekend at my new house and have invited 40 people!  So I really want to kick it into high gear with workouts this week so I can look like the hostess with the mostess on Saturday!

I’m in desperate need of this vacation.  I have been a giant stress ball the past few days, I even worked from home today because I was so sick with nervousness this morning.  I’m feeling better now but I really do need a vacation!

Last Week’s Summary:

I lost 2 pounds!

Exercise:

Monday - BodyCombat (PM)

Tuesday - Training Session w/ Mica - 45 minutes (PM)

Wednesday - Rest

Thursday - Jump Rope - 20 minutes (PM)

Friday - Training Session w/ Mica - 45 minutes (PM)

Saturday - Interval Run w/ Hill Sprints + Push-Ups & Tricep Dips (AM)

Sunday - Rest (not planned)

Average Calories - 1618

Macronutrient Averages - Carbs - 31%, Fats - 32%, Protein - 37%

Wow, time flies by when you’re training hard doesn’t it?!  That’s a good thing though.  Plus work has been super busy so maybe that is why the weeks are going by so fast. 

Well, I’ve really been focusing on eating clean and training hard and I’m starting to see results slowly but surely.  I could probably still tighten up on my diet a little more, but I don’t want to get burned out too fast.  I’ve still got 4 weeks to go and I would rather get really restrictive at the end rather than the middle.  Plus, we’re going to a wedding this weekend and I want to be allowed a cheat night! 

My trainer has really been kicking my arse.  Actually I just got back from a session with her and I think the lower half of my body has checked out for the night!  I was feeling fat before we started working out but by the end of it I felt like a hoss!!

So, here is the summary from last week along with the goals for next week….enjoy!

Exercise Log:

Monday:  Cardio/Weight Circuit - 30 minutes (PM)

Tuesday:  Rest

Wednesday:  Training Session w/ Mica - 45 minutes (PM)

Thursday:  Elliptical - 30 minutes (Noon)  **Active Rest

Friday:  Training Session w/ Mica - 45 minutes (AM)

Saturday:  Cardio Circuit - 30 minutes (PM)

Sunday:  BodyCombat (PM)

Average Calories for the Week:  1742

Macronutrient Averages:

Carbs:  172 grams, 39%

Fat:  59 grams, 29%

Protein:  136 grams, 32%

Average Weight:  129 pounds

Goals for Next Week:  1500 calorie average, 250 minutes of cardio.

 PS - Any advice is greatly appreciated, have a great week everybody!

Well hello there!  Yes, it’s been over two months since my last post, shame on me!  I’ve just been so busy learning all the in’s and out’s of my new job I’ve hardly had anytime to do much!  I absolutely love my job though, it has been so great and everyone I work with is awesome.

Now…the bad part about this new job situation is that I haven’t been keeping up with my workouts and good eating habits as much as I should and I’ve gained some weight  =(  So I’ve hired a personal trainer for the next 6 weeks (because I’m going to the beach the first week in May) and I’m starting to feel a lot better.  I was really sick on Friday but I still pulled myself out of bed at 4:45am (yes, these are freakin early) and got in my 2nd training session for the week.  It was good but I could tell my body was really weak, so I took the afternoon off from work and didn’t work out on Saturday.  I feel a lot better since my rest and I had an awesome workout at BodyCombat this afternoon.

Here is the summary of this week, I’ve really been keeping up with everything so that I can tell what I need to work on:

Monday - BodyPump (AM), Elliptical - 45 minutes (Noon)  (OH YEAH, I forgot to tell you, there is a workout room in my new building at work!)

Tuesday - Training Session w/ Mica - 45 minutes (PM)

Wednesday - 30 minute Interval Run w/ Hills & Stairs (PM)

Thursday - Rest

Friday - Training Session w/ Mica - 45 minutes (AM)

Saturday - Rest (Sick)

Sunday - BodyCombat - 50 minutes (PM)

Average Weight - 130

Average Calories - 1787

Macronutrients - Carbs - 43%, Fat 28%, Protein - 29%

So as you can see, I need some help and definitely some good motivation.  The trainer is really helping with that, I just really need to tighten up my diet and give it my all in the gym.  5 weeks until the beach!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

I had a great birthday today!  My parents came up and went to church with us then took us out to eat at PF Changs (yum, I ate way too much but it was sooo good), then I went and took our squad pictures at the gym and all my girl’s surprised me with a ton of balloons and a huge cake!  Nope, didn’t eat any of it, it’s only the first week of Lent!  It was so sweet and everyone just made my day!

I worked out 6 times this week!  Woo hoo!  I didn’t make my goal weight of 120 but I’m close and this is definitely the first birthday in a long time that I’ve been really happy with my body.  I really feel great!

Last week’s workouts:

Monday:  BodyPump + 30 minute Run

Tuesday:  Rest (I was soooo tired and it was pouring down rain when I was supposed to be going to BodyAttack)

Wednesday:  BodyPump + 20 minute Run

Thursday:  BodyStep

Friday:  BodyPump + 30 min. Stairmaster

Saturday:  BodyAttack

Sunday (Today):  20 min. Run outside on hills (with Vincent!)

I start my new job tomorrow and I’m so pumped!!!  I feel like I’m really starting a new chapter in my life and I feel sooo good about it.  I have a great family, a fantastic boyfriend, wonderful friends, a very caring God, a passion for health and fitness, an awesome dog, and now I’m going to have a fabulous job to go with it!  And eventually a fabulous house too!  I’m just so happy!  I also just have a completely better attitude than I did last year when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.  I’m past that, I’m looking at nothing but a bright future…ahhhh….

Wow, these last two weeks have flown by!  So much for that long 2 week vacation away from work, it’s gone now!  I did have a pretty relaxing time, and I got a lot done that needed to get done.  And now I’m really getting excited (and a tad bit nervous) about starting my new job on Monday!  Will they like me?  Will I like them?  Will I know what I’m doing?  What should I wear?  Hair down or up?  Who should I eat lunch with?  AHHHHH!!!  Ok Nat, chil…..

My birthday is in 2 days…YAY!  I’ll be a quarter of a century old…whoa…  My parents are coming up Sunday morning and going to church with Jeff and I and then we’re all going to PF Changs for lunch, then I have to go coach a cheerleading practice and take our team pictures. I would have taken the entire day off if it weren’t for those dang pictures!

I’ve been hitting it hard in the gym these past two weeks and it’s really paying off.  I feel good, I feel strong, and people are starting to notice!  I hope to continue it into this weekend then keep it up now that I have a set schedule again.  I could NEVER be a stay at home mom…I hate not having a set schedule every day…these past two weeks killed me!

It’s here!  No more sugary treats for 6 whole weeks starting TODAY!  I do it every year so I’m not too worried about not being able to.  I actually look forward to it, resisting something bad for you is very empowering.  And I tend to drop a few pounds along the way too!  Is anyone else giving up anything for Lent?

And I have another exciting thing to look forward to and hit the gym extra for…we’re going to the beach in May!  My parents are taking me and my boyfriend to the beach for a whole week!  We’ve got a 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath condo already waiting on us, I’m soooo excited!  I haven’t been to the beach in forever, it will be so much fun!

I woke up this morning, my house was freezing, looked outside and it’s snowing!  What?!  It was 75 degrees on Monday??!  This weather is insane.  Not to mention we had some tornados tear through the state last night too.  The storms were pretty bad.  I think there are 10 people missing and 7 dead so far.  So sad.  I can’t imagine having something like that happen at night, I would be so afraid for the sun to come up the next day and see what it actually destroyed.