Push me up

If you caught me on instagram the past couple days, you’ll see that I’ve offered up a challenge. A pushup challenge. Don’t roll your eyes just yet, this one is fun, and easy, and just plain impossible to resist. Promise.

I got to calculating…I can do that now that I got an A- in college math (boom!), and I found that as of the first of July, there were 183 days left in the year. After determining I wanted to do at least 1,000 pushups by January 1st, I again calculated (I’m so math smart) that that would take 6 pushups a day.

Easy peasy, right!?

That’s what I said.

What makes it so great is if you do 10, you only have to do 4 the next day. Do 20, and look at that, you can take a couple days off if you want. Or if you’re feeling crazy inspired, stick with 20 every day and see how far you can go.

I was so happy to see that I had quite the happy response and a good solid 10 lovely ladies agreed to the challenge. I confess, I made sure it was a ‘desirable’ number for others to want to join. 6 evokes “ease”, don’t you agree?

For myself, I am doing a lot more than 6 daily, though I don’t want to say my number because I don’t want anyone to get discouraged and think what they’re doing isn’t enough. 6 is more than a lot of us do every day, and 6 will certainly make a big difference in the way your arms look when you do them over and over again. And I can guarantee that after awhile of doing 6, you’ll blow past it and think you could do 6 in your sleep with how far you’ve come.

I’ve had some say they can’t even do 1, and that’s okay too. Start out with one and build up to two. Do girl pushups (I am), and don’t even think twice about feeling like you have to do guy pushups. I have this mental torment at least every 3-4 months thinking I need to ditch girl and do guy pushups, so I will for months, then not care again, and go back to girl. Its one of those things where I think I have something to prove but no one to prove it to, so back to girlies I go. This is me though, and currently I’m happy doing girl pushups.

If you want to join in, please do! I wanted some fun accountability, so the more the merrier. There’s plenty of tutorials on how to do the proper form, (Mark does a great job at explaining AND showing the right/wrong way. Jump to 48 seconds in his video); but here’s the gist: back straight (NO arch), neck/head straight, abs in tight, hands at shoulder level (not by head), and control the pushup.

So, you want to join in? You’ll get great arms because of it. Nice arms with only 20 seconds of pushups a day..if that, by the end of the year?? Come on, you know you want to join. If not for you, then do it for me sacrificing my hands on the scalding pavement for these photos. My devotion to you is worth my burnt hands…


Yes, I did many takes and created my own hashtag. I blame the heat for all my actions. (kidding)…

So, here we go! Better arms by 2015, we can do it!

Pin It Now!

Mentally Monday

But its so nice knowing its really Tuesday. This 3 day weekend I was given was glorious in every way. Hopefully you guys were able to enjoy it just as much. Each day I got to do something different, meaning I actually got off the couch 2 days of the 3. Shocking for sure.

Though I’ll go into it in another post, Saturday evening I went out and chased the sun. It was so nice not rushing to the spot I planned on going, to shoot the sunset. I actually left early! The only nerve wracking part was knowing people who were driving by could see me. I still struggle with knowing I’m visible but I pushed it far down and enjoyed watching the sunset while working on “my vision” I mentioned Friday.

People talk about their passions and I think I’m ready to admit my passion is photographing sunsets. I love it. I can’t get enough of it and I want to hone my skills to take the most spectacular sunsets imaginable. It would be such an honor to travel the world to capture sunsets. Silly maybe to some, but beyond wanting to be that fitness model in magazines who demonstrates workout moves, this is my passion.

I’m still on the fence with enjoying family portraits. It could be my newbie status, but I don’t enjoy it. Though I’m excited to see if a friend and *cough* sister a family member will allow me to photograph their birth {provided I can be there}. My friend is due in 3 weeks and she said she’d think about it. Think of how fun it would be to capture it all? They don’t know what they’re having and I can just picture how fun it would be to capture that, can’t you??

Within my 3 day weekend, I got to hit up 5 stores. 5! My feet were crying at the end of the day. I should learn to wear better shoes, but after the craziness of the Dollar Store and Hobby Lobby (holy tons of people in there), Target offered the calm quiet I was needing. I sure love Target. Though it was quickly followed by the craziness of Costco and then the grocery store. But the best part of it all? It was 66 degrees and there was no way this {self professed} recluse could stay indoors, so I went to my favorite place that I’ve missed dearly… the bleachers!
I really was that happy to be running bleachers. It’s the best workout for me and I could do it every other day if the weather stayed like it did Monday. I’m not like those crazies who can go out in the cold. I need some warmth.

I feel like I just wrote you all a letter. This post reads like a letter, so feel free to write back. :) And since no letter is without questions:
* What is the one thing you got to do this weekend that you haven’t been able to all winter?

* Do you know your passion? Or have an idea what it is?

* Do you have more than one passion?

* What time do you normally go to bed?
{no relevance to the post whatsoever but curious all the same :) }

Pin It Now!

Myths about eating “less”

Sometimes I can talk like I really know what I’m talking about. Yesterday was one of those times. I was even impressing myself, until the very end when I started to lose my train of thought and stutter. *I’m thinking I’m developing a stutter problem*

In light of yesterday’s post and all my cooking Sunday, I had a little more confidence with my knowledge and held onto it while talking with a co worker. This co worker is battling her weight and she declared to me and another co worker that she was going to lose weight! And by telling us, it was her way of holding herself accountable, whereas before she would keep it to herself and fail.

I’ve heard her talking before with other co workers a month or so ago, but I sat back and listened to their ‘advice’, cringing as they were steering her in the wrong direction. Despite my frequent lack of eating enough throughout my day, I know what I’m supposed to do. I’ve had personal trainers over the years, not to mention G-man who is constantly researching exercise and eating the proper amount of calories, so I have a lot of knowledge on the subject.

So when she made her declaration, I asked her what she planned to do. “EAT LESS!” was her answer. This made me nervous, so I asked her how less? And that’s when she said 1,000 calories a day. 1,000 calories a day. That is too low!

I really think this is the common myth women believe. That by consuming an awfully low amount of calories that it will take the weight off, and its just not true! Should you eat less? of course! But dropping to such a low amount is going to put your body in, ‘hold tight to that fat’ mode! Especially if you’re going to start incorporating exercise in your life. You need that fuel. I think this is a big reason women get so discouraged and stop working at it, because they’re not seeing the results they expected.

We got to talking about what she could do. I showed her the pictures from my cook fest and it got her all excited of the possibility. She even wants to pay me to cook it all for her. {if anyone can come up with my price, I’m up for suggestions} but I explained to her the importance of eating enough, especially if she starts to workout, drinking tons and tons of water and keeping it healthy.

I’m not sure if you thought avoiding eating until dinner was the way to lose weight. Or that by eating considerably ‘less’ and working out would burn all that fat. Or that weight training will add bulk when you’re wanting to lose the weight, but let me tell you. Starving yourself daily is not the way to go..working out requires you to eat more (of the right foods) to fuel that body and get the burn to work on the fat..and weight training will help you lose weight. It won’t bulk you up but help burn the fat more and lean you down.

Yes, muscle weighs more than fat but its m-u-s-c-l-e.

Am I professional? No. But I’ve maintained this physique for the past 10 years

Do I make the right dinner choices all the time? No, but even when I wasn’t eating enough food, I was still always eating healthy foods. Nothing processed. Veggies, sweet potatoes and chicken only. This is my current routine with my eating.

Breakfast
2 cups of coffee (1 level spoon of sugar and 1/2 and 1/2)
steel cut oats w/fresh fruit and flaxseed sprinkled on top w/brown sugar and a dash of milk

Mid morning snack
apple slices w/all natural peanut butter (every single day for the past 9 months)

Lunch
(this week) sweet potato wraps
{or}
a salad or chicken leftovers
next week I’m making this for lunches (and let me tell you, its delicious!)

Mid afternoon snack
(if I get hungry)
plain cottage cheese w/pretzel crisps
{or}
a piece of chocolate dipped in peanut butter (I have this obsession w/peanut butter)

Dinner
Chicken/fish/shrimp and veggies

Drinking close to a gallon of water every single day and I get 2-4 workouts in a week. Depending on my mood.

But that’s it. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t. I hope I helped my co worker. I really want her to succeed and feel better about herself, and hopefully this post can help someone else see the realities of what it takes.

What myths have you been told about losing weight?

Do you have a tried and true way you maintain your figure?


*remember, I’m not a professional. Only offering suggestions of what’s worked for me and what I’ve found over the years to be effective.

Pin It Now!

Letters on a Friday

I thought it was Friday yesterday…you can imagine my disappointment when I realized at 3pm it wasn’t. Yes, it took me that long to realize it. Thank goodness its today though! Cause that means its time for….

Dear readers, thanks for the support on yesterday's post. I, like a lot of you, wish there would be a punishment for false accusers…maybe and hopefully one day. Dear skin, seriously? …seriously?! We clear up the dermatitis and are ok for a few months and now rosacea? Do not approve…do. not. approve! Dear rosacea, I find it funny you’re only prone to women ages 30-50. Thanks for waiting until I was 30 and 8 months old. Dear lamp, what is the deal? You had two people wanting to buy you but both “forgot” they were supposed to meet up to take you. I don’t think they see your full potential and don’t deserve you. Dear dry shampoo, I don’t get what the big deal is with you. I don’t notice a change at all when I use you on day 2 hair. What gives?! Dear legs, you have 7 weeks to get super toned for my bridesmaid dress. No flab allowed, okay? Dear ankles, you will soon be separating from the calves once again. It will be painful but I can’t have you be cankles anymore, I’m sorry to break it to ya. Dear bleachers, I love you…almost more than broccoli. Running up you feels sooo great. Let’s keep meeting up every other day so we can show those ankles and legs who runs the show. oh and bleachers, did you get my pun there? …that was for you.

Loving you loving me,
Emily

Now everyone, I sure hope you have a great weekend. Have some bbq for me, okay? Preferably a chicken sausage kabob or brats or beer brats or a polish dog…

I think I need me some sausage…

Pin It Now!

Turn that leaf over

People, I’ve turned over a new leaf! Please have a seat as I explain the amazingness that I am now.

I walked the 1/4 mile to the high school track to workout! Oh my word, I did! I didn’t drive it like I always do…I walked!!

Can we all just pause a moment to soak in the magnitude of this statement?! – NO? ok, fine.

I realize a 1/4 mile is really pathetic to drive each and every time I wanted to workout, but I blamed it on the concrete..and the cold (and then the heat)..and the fact that if I wanted to workout before and after I actually planned on working out, then I would..but I don’t. Let’s be real.

But this whole stupid $4.29 a gallon junk is keeping me from driving around all willy nilly. I’m a willy nilly driver, guys! And now, I can’t be. I walk to the post office 5 blocks away now. (those are big blocks, okay?!) I no longer drive it. I figure that if I’m going into an adjoining city, to do more than the one errand, so I’ll conserve on gas.

I still drive fast(er), so my mpg isn’t where it could be, but I believe in baby steps and sacrifices.
Ok, so the leaf might not be completely turned. All in good time, I suppose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A gentle reminder that one week from today is the link up for the self portraits. A few of you have jumped on board, there’s plenty of time if you’re wanting to have fun with us..only with yourself since we won’t be there, but you get the idea. I’m getting more and more excited to see everyone’s pictures next Wednesday! ..and yes, more and more nervous of doing mine. {tis true}

If you’re wanting to know what kind of poses you should do, check out this website. It offers great ideas on poses.
via Digital Photography School
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Awhile back I did a friend’s family pictures and can’t wait to show them, for now here’s their absolutely beautiful adorable lovable daughter. She’s my favorite..she’s everyone’s favorite, actually!

Since I can’t decide between the color and black and white, I’ll let you decide which you prefer most. I love them both!
her lashes…I covet.

Pin It Now!

B-I-D

At 21 I was living in Los Angeles, working 2 jobs. One of those jobs happened to be at California Pizza Kitchen as a hostess. It was a job that allowed me to eat for free each shift. This was essential since I was very poor, unable to really buy groceries for myself. To say I took advantage of each shift’s meal is an understatement.

Full salads, full pizzas always finished off with a dessert. I ate every single bite in front of me. For 8 months of shifts, I ate every bite.

My other job supplied the sweets. Patients would bring cookies and chocolates as thank you and I would take my fair share. Eating chocolate every single day for a month straight. I craved it, had to have it!

And it all quickly began to show. 15lbs were gained. I weighed the most I’d ever weighed. Nothing fit as good; I felt gross, but I couldn’t stop. I craved it all, losing my sense of portion control.


I was under a lot of stress in LA. Which attributed to my eating. I could barely pay rent, my first roommate was a chain smoker with a cat that threw up all the time-everywhere and after I moved, my living situation only got worse with my new roommates stealing my things. I couldn’t take it anymore and moved away.

I relocated to Pismo Beach with my uncle. My uncle, who was seeing a former body builder turned gym owner. After committing to working out 5 days a week and going on a drastic 40-30-30 plan (fats-carbs-protein), the weight was gone. People were commenting on how ‘ripped’ I was, but I never really believed it.


I’d get measured regularly to see if I was losing anymore in my thighs or waist, because I believed I still had a way to go. For a year straight I worked out 5 days a week and probably in some of the best shape I’d been in but I never felt good about myself. Feeling my thighs and calves were never ‘toned enough.’ Never feeling I could wear shorts because of all that ‘jiggle’.

My uncle’s girlfriend said I had BID – Body Image Disorder. What I see isn’t what others see. (obviously) I’m getting told I look one way, yet all I see is this slob who needs to lose the chub in the hips and thighs. It’s a crazy way to think and over the years I’ve worked very hard on not viewing myself that way, but fall back to it sometimes.

What helps in those moments, is remembering what my mom said years ago, that if she looked as good as me {and my sister in law that was there} at our ages, she’d be in shorts every day. And the worse regret is looking back at those years you thought you were chunky or heavy and seeing that you weren’t. All those years wasted on not enjoying how you looked then.

I’ve been wearing shorts for the past 2 1/2 years. I fight the way I think my legs look in them, but I’m enjoying how I look now. I’m very critical of myself, but I want to look back 10-20-30 years from now and be content and not regretful at how I viewed my body and lived my life.

I want you to keep this in mind for yourself, if you struggle with this, tomorrow. I’m doing a little something that I’m really excited about that I hope you’ll join me in, fears and all.

Its time we believe the compliments we’re given.

Pin It Now!

I’m thankful for 40

Hello, my friends.

Long time no speak. You know when everyone goes on an internet break, completely unplugs and basks in the ‘silence’ of not having the internet?? Well, that wasn’t me. Well, it was. Don’t get me wrong. It was nice not always being hooked up to my computer, because when I’m home that’s all I do. Sit with my laptop on my lap for far more hours than I’d like to admit. But it was really hard not having access when I absolutely needed access.

I had a nice time with my Grandma though. We went and had it up at the casinos. Hung around making dinner, watched movies and slept in.

I’m thankful for:

-winning a bloggers giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to Sephora online. But darn it all if I can’t find out who she is. I have her name but not her blog, but I won. woot woot! and she forwarded me the certificate so its all good!! Can’t wait to use it. What should I use it for?!?!
 
- a safe arrival to my grandma’s house. I left far later than I meant to and thankfully the L.A traffic wasn’t too bad and made it within 6-ish hours.

- the great weather. I packed thinking it was going to be chilly like at home, so plenty of sweaters and yet people are in shorts here. I’ll take it though.

- my grandma’s generosity. Letting me stay with her for a week and taking care of everything. More than generous.

- getting a chance to meet up with Victoria, last minute. It really was great meeting up with her and getting to know her more. I was a bit nervous wondering what she’d think of me. Or even if she’d recognize me..so I told her I’d be the girl that looks like Emily online. ..she recognized me.

- all the waaaaay too good of food I ate. Buffets are ultimately of the devil. Just sayin’

- the fitness center in the hotel. I was practically running down there, I was so eager to workout. Odd I was by myself both times I was in there. Odd but so so thankful. I like having a gym to myself.
yes, I had it on ESPN…sort of not by choice. I just gave in and made G-man proud.

Now it’s onto my next location. I’m most likely either driving or flying at this moment. Must make it in time to my next stop. Can’t be late for this very important date…

With that, I’ll be back up and about come tomorrow, so be ready for me to ambush you.

That was a warning..not a threat.

Feel free to fill me in on all your happenings over the past many days. I need to be caught up!

Pin It Now!

I wanna hold your hand

If you haven’t caught on yet, I use either song lyrics or movie lines to get my point across. It’s the way I’ve grown up communicating.

Can you name the group I’m using today?

Any way, on to my point. I need someone to hold my hand. I realize I’m 30 years old and should be able to do things without hand holding, but I’m really needing it. Like, honestly needing it.

Who is willing to take on the full and complete fun responsibility of being my 5 day a week accountability partner with working out?

Ever since this last surgery I have really let myself go. Eating crap and exercising so irregularly, that, though I haven’t weighed myself {no scale} I have been the softest and jiggliest I’ve been since I gained 15lbs at 21.
its obvious here.


Last week I measured every single area that I have problems with. It’s a lot of areas. As well as taking the ‘before’ pictures. I worked out 2 days last week but my goal is 5. Monday through Friday.

I’ll admit, I worked out yesterday and I was surprised I did. Once I woke up I felt like a truck hit me, I was so drained, that I just kept it a lazy morning before heading to physical therapy. But being in PT, they make me exercise in the form of jumping. Lots of jumping. And with jumping comes jiggling in front of everyone. Everyone who watches me. How do I know they’re watching me? They talk about my jumping the whole time I’m doing it. I was at my limit of disgust.

I ended up going straight to the high school afterward and hit the bleachers. I was dripping with sweat, it was awesome. But I know me. I know my motivation and I know that I really really need someone to hold me accountable daily, right now.

If I know someone will check on me and there’s that chance I could disappoint them, I’ll tend to do it.

So, who’s willing to step up and help me? I have a 4 week goal and need to kill it before my deadline. If YOU need an accountability partner yourself, I can do it!

In case anyone’s wondering, I still haven’t been cleared to run but I’m thinking by next week I’ll be able to start again. But I can do everything else!

Who’s in?? Please. Pleeeease.

Pin It Now!

Its fad-ulous!!

Among my many weaknesses one of my major ones are getting hooked on the latest fad workouts. I’m drawn like a moth to a flame, I just have to get it, do it and then think about why I stopped doing it until the latest one comes along, and then I get that.

Lets take a walk down my fad path.

Great Body Guaranteed. I had these when they were in video tapes! That’s how long ago it was. Even though I gave them away sold them, I still actually go online and download the legs video to do.


The Bean. I seriously don’t know what I was thinking with this one. It was so huge and obtrusive and was the worst to store. I also “sold this.”


Ab Rocker. I had the hardest time finding a picture, that’s how old it is. But it did the job. The job of marking up the carpet from the black pads on the curved part.


Perfect Pullup. Is it odd I couldn’t find a female doing these?? But alas, I too have this and its currently in my office doorway. I once was able to do 9 in a row and now, as of Monday, I can do 2. But its there and it looks at me each time I walk down the hall.


P90X . I did so well with this for the first 3 weeks and then something happened. Oh yeah, I stopped. The yoga was the most annoying, not to mention I couldn’t jump around due to my feet, at that time. But I still do the Ab Ripper X…though I’ve gotten really bored with that lately.


Kettlebell. My most recent fad. And like all the others, I am currently extremely excited about this one. Even using it the moment it arrived last night. I’m sore and of course love that!


I know there has to be a few more, but those are actually the ones that I remember.

I guess I’ll be honest and say, I’ve been wanting the Zumba dvd’s for a couple months now and even saw an infomercial last night for them but the price (thankfully) has stopped me from getting them.

So I’m a fad-aholic with the new and even better workouts. I took the appropriate “before” pictures last night and can’t wait to see my changes. Maybe I should compare the other 2 sets of “before” pictures I’ve taken over the years and compare. ha!

Do you have this weakness? What are some workouts you can’t help but buy?

all pictures borrowed from pinterest except the kettlebell..that’s mine.

Pin It Now!

I’m thankful for 27

Good day everyone! Can we all realize that August is fast coming to an end and I’m not sure that it didn’t just start?! Craziness. School is starting back up this week for some and all I hear is madness going on with everyone getting back to their normal scheduled. And by everyone, I mean those with kiddies and you teachers out there.

There’s absolutely zero madness going on around me. How about you? Is madness abounding??

So this week, I’m making up for my lack of thanks from last and found tons. Crazy when I actually focus on it throughout the week and make it a point to remember.

I’m thankful for

- calling the billing department for a doctor’s bill to inquire about 2 bills and having her, without even asking, take 20% off the largest bill. Apparently they do that, just cause and if you don’t call, you won’t get it. (note to self, always call before paying from here on out!)

- dear sweet Katie who told me through twitter that sometimes hospitals will write off your entire bill if you call and explain ‘your situation’ and sometimes they’ll do it without you even explaining! (note to self, always always call to ‘explain my situation’ to reduce ridiculous medical bills)

- driving safely to everywhere I needed to go, and the generosity of my friend letting me stay at her place for the night.

- getting a good report from the doc and his stopping me from working out (that I planned on doing this week). Instead he’s ordered me to physical therapy for 6 weeks and strict “only walking” exercise.

- being able to walk. I started today around the track..and I admit, I walked up the bleachers too. (can’t help it) but the Dr. wants me in high heels. Yep, you heard correctly! He wants me to wear heels again (crazy, I know…it’s been 10 years) so if you happen to be following me on pinterest, you’ll notice my ‘per doctors orders’ board. hehe

- my sweet friend that you’ve seen with the adorable pregnant belly, had her beautiful baby girl.

- you all for your sweet words last week. Thank you!

- impromptu wine with my neighbor on her balcony, this weekend. It was a great evening chatting and staring at the stars.

- having the energy to scrub down my entire apartment the day after my migraine. And I mean a thorough scrub down. It’s so nice being in a super clean home and I still have no idea where it came from.

- I told you I had a lot this week! I hope you all were able to find things to be thankful for too and had yourselves a great weekend. Oh and by the way, here’s my ‘new hair’ read: darker.

Pin It Now!

Weight for me

I have to be honest, I’m frustrated beyond belief and can’t do anything about it.

I had a goal and that goal was actually coming to fruition prior to my surgery. Since then, obviously I haven’t been able to workout at all and I’ve been feeling the effects. And hating it!

In every way I know I’m thin. So understand that my frustrations might seem dumb to some but I can tell when I gain weight. It all likes to take residence in my hips and thighs and I just want to cry seeing all the hard work get lost as I sit on my butt day in and day out with my feet up.

I’ve started to do upper body again. Push ups, dips and ab ripper X, but its obviously doing little to the lower body which is where the weight has gone. Or doing anything for that matter anywhere since I’m not doing any cardio to contribute to the small workouts to make a difference.

So, I’m feeling gross. Like, extremely gross.

And please understand, I’m not doing the whole girl thing where I say, ‘I’m so fat’ just to get people to tell me I’m not fat. That’s the last thing I’m doing. Just needing to vent that I’m dying to get out and run the bleachers again. To workout and be toned like I was working so hard to be before.
via

I never thought I’d be the type dying to workout but I’m just itching to go out there any way even though I’m not ready.

Do you guys ever run across this with yourselves? Where you can’t workout for a few weeks or months and just feel horrible?

How long can you go without working out before you can tell your body’s ‘softening’? What do you do to help the spirits?? ….besides eating cookies and chocolate, cause seriously, I’m already doing that.

Pin It Now!

Eeeek, I’ve been cut!!

Yep, it’s happening, or happened (depending on when you’re seeing this)

I’ve been cut open like a dead fish, gutted and thrown on the grill.
via

OK, still going on with the dramatics.

If you think about it, pray for me. Pray the surgery went well, pray I’m recovering well, pray we make it home safely from Los Angeles so I can rest.

Thanks everyone for all all your support leading up to today.

And before I go, let me clarify something from Tuesday's post. I’m not sure if a certain comment was a bad comment or a neutral comment about my abs but let me set the record straight about what I do. and lets all note that in Tuesday’s post I never said I did straight abs, okie dokie?

I’m naturally thin. When I don’t workout for awhile, I get a little soft but (though some may hate me) once I do abs again, they immediately come back. Now, that’s just me.

A person has to be under a certain body fat percentage in order to have a ‘flat stomach.’ G-man and I are always having conversations about doing straight abs and how you’ll NEVER get a 6 pack doing them alone. Yet, I can..it’s just the way I’ve always been, again because I’m under that percentage.

With that said, I’ve been working out 5 days a week. Since I’ve been working someone else out, I’ve been doing cardio just about every single day. I do abs 1-3 days a week, a quick 15 minute dvd and arms. All of that coupled with eating right and lots and lots of water allow me to be fit and toned. Which is my ultimate goal. That picture was actually taken after a cardio day and not an ab day.

Obviously cardio has helped me slim down more.

AAAAAAANY WAAAAY! I’m tired of talking about this. Let’s focus on what really matters. Prayers make my heart smile as I recover. Thanks everyone! Have a fabulous time this weekend with your loved ones.

Pin It Now!

Dear Jillian Michaels, I now understand

I understand why you yell at people. I still don’t care for it, but I now fully and completely understand.

I’m working someone out. I know its lame, but I can’t talk too much about it, but they need help.

Enter ME.

There have been quite a few people who have referred to me as “Jillian Michaels” as I describe the workouts and my demeanor to them. Some in a good way…some not so good way.

But I don’t yell….but I can see where I could…

It can be frustrating listening to all the complaining and excuses being made, but I’m learning to not care and push them even harder. harsh? I don’t think so. But I know they think so. Maybe I’ll create a different approach.

I used this line the other day after they stopped in the middle of a set, ‘the longer you stop, the more we’re going to do.’ Needless to say we doubled that set.

Moving on…

I find a little pleasure in working people out. I’m not sure if I could do this as a full time thing, but I like knowing we’re both getting the benefit since I’m kinda getting a workout in too. And to see them go further than they did the day before or do more then they thought they could do is encouraging. But I get too emotionally involved I think. I get frustrated too easily at the lack of desire intensity devotion commitment to it.

A month ago I set a goal to work out 5 days a week. I’m doing really good. Now if you saw it, I said 6 days, but that proved too much for me and stuck with 5. 3 weeks in I was doing great, 4th week I got completely burned out by it and did I think 4 days. Thankfully with me working this person out, it’s enabled me to keep working out, albeit later in the day.

I admit, I’ve only done Ab Ripper X once in a week. But since I’ve worked out, my abs are rocking!

And my most difficult area, my legs are coming along too. Even my mom commented that she can tell they’ve toned up and my cankles aren’t so cankl-ee anymore. They’ve actually thinned down…since my calves have also thinned down. I’m so stinking happy at that report! It’s so hard for me to tell looking down on them.

I’ve slacked off on the push ups too, but I did 100 the other day and about died! This push up app that I have on my phone is destined to kill me.

I only have a few more days of hard workouts to do before I have my surgery so I really want to stay consistent with them all the way up to the end when I have to take a few weeks off. So here’s to pushing hard!!

How are you doing with your workouts??

Pin It Now!

I’m thankful for 14

Hello All. I wished good sunny warm weather on everyone over the weekend and since my wishes ALWAYS come true, I know you all had it. ha!

Any way, I really do hope you all did though. I’m here in sunny Los Angeles visiting my friend who graduates from college today. It’s her honors ceremony today and her big time official graduation on Wednesday. Busy busy this week.


I’m thankful for getting here safely. I’m not the most fond of the drive. Going over the grapevine (for all you who know about ‘the grapevine’) is one of the most lousy moments in driving, so I’m happy to be here safe and sound.

I’m thankful for the sweet old man who stopped me while I was working out last week to tell me he admired my tenacity and athleticism. I thought it was the nicest thing ever. I repaid the compliment since he’s out there every day walking 4 miles around the track.

I’m thankful for getting healthy. Working out every day last week was a challenge but I felt good all day long and loved that!

I’m thankful for my Mom and Dad. I kinda blanked last Monday in my post, but making up for it today. It was their birthday last Monday. Yep, I said “their.” My Dad is about 5 hours older than my mom, neat huh? I’m so thankful for them. I’m so happy I’m their favorite child. (no really, I am…huh Mom?!)

I’m thankful for my friend loaning me “Tangled.” It’s the cutest movie of all time. I kept telling her ‘my kid was bugging me about it and wouldn’t leave me alone until she saw it so please please please loan it to me.’ (as we all know I have no kids)

I’m thankful for finishing my list of problems for the Dr. I’m seeing tomorrow. I put them in bullets and when I was done it was almost an entire page long…single spaced. Let’s hope he doesn’t think I’m crazy.

I think if I can force myself to stop…I have this weird deal about stopping on road trips, but if I stop, there’s an absolutely beautiful lake just off of the grapevine that I may take pictures of and show you. It’s so gorgeous. I go off the road at least 4 times looking at it while driving.

Enjoy the rest of your Monday’s.

via

Pin It Now!

Let’s all set a goal, shall we?

Last week I yelled at myself. I wasn’t being the most fair, but yelled none the less. Does anyone else yell at themselves? Be honest.

I workout inconsistently. A day here, a day there and I think it shows. Mainly in the hipple region. (what? you don’t call it the ‘hipple region’?) Ok, the hips and thighs area.

That’s my problem area and we’ve never gotten along. So even though all last week I was gone watching crazy puppies, I was still upset with myself for not being in the tip top shape that I believe I should be in.

total side note: my body building friend/personal trainer informed me years ago, in her opinion, that I had B.I.D. Body Image Disorder. What I see is not what others see. Well duh, of course we all see ourselves in the icky mirror on occasion.

Any way, I know what I look like yet I prefer to be a lot more toned. Hence the ‘goal setting.’ I have no excuse to not work out…beyond the feet of course. I have plenty of time in my day that at any part of it I could go out and get ‘er done, but I opt for 1st in the morning because otherwise I’ll never do it. I know me.

So, I’ve set a goal (and a plan) for myself beginning this week:
M-W-F I’ll wake up and go to the high school track and do my workout. Then come home and do a legs video (to speed up the toning process, the track workout isn’t showing me results fast enough).

T-TH-S I do the P90X Ab Ripper X DVD plus a bunch of push ups and dips.

I’ve worked out every day this week and feel great about it! My ultimate goal is to pretty much look like these ladies. seriously. (let’s all note how much I don’t like Jillian Michaels, but I can’t deny she’s in phenomenal shape)


My main focus are my legs, they have the most work to do. My arms could be more toned and abs I want to maintain.

So I’m putting it out there. To keep me accountable to workout and get toned. My goal is to maintain the healthiest fittest body I can for the remainder of my days, and I’ve seriously starting as of Monday…I’m not getting any younger (as I get told regularly) and you know what they all say. Once you hit 30 your body does this weird change and when once you could bounce back you can’t anymore.

Well Baby, I’m going to make sure I don’t need to “bounce back!”

If anyone wants to join me with their goals, you’re more than welcome. Feel free to tell me them in the comments and we can keep each other accountable. Don’t not want to put it out there. It’s just time for me to stop dilly dallying.


I hope every single one of you awesome ladies have a fabulous weekend. My life gets crazy as of Sunday so I’m going to soak up today and Saturday as best as I can before it all begins.

Images via pinterest 1.here 2.here 3.here 4.here 5.here

Pin It Now!

Ever heard of stairs

Silly question, I know...

Due to my major aversion to public displays of working out a.k.a gyms I have to tap into my creative brain to find other means of working out. Like the apartment complex stairs.

42 glorious flights of hardly ever used stairs. Why wouldn't I want to go there?! It's dimly lit, concrete and metal with poor air flow. Sounds like a place for me!!

No, I did not use all 42 flights. I focused on 6 flights only. (I'm all about moderation and not utterly killing myself). Working out, I felt compelled, compelled I tell you!,  to share all the things you can do on stairs.

Brace yourself...it's a doozy!!

Naturally, there's running up them; 1 at a time, 2 at a time, 3 if you're ambitious (I'm not ambitious) on the toes, on the heels (careful on that one), flat footed, squatted down...oooh you'll feel the burn on that one. Or just plain walking up.
OR
you can go sideways taking 2 at a time. (Holy cow, let me tell you that one burns. I don't recommend having that be the LAST thing you do because you'll only be able to do 1 just to prove it's possible for a post..yes, I HAD to test it out before I mentioned it...I'm weak ok!?)

THEN
there's also push ups. At an incline OR decline (can't do the decline...a little too tough for this girl)

Tricep dips. Absolutely great!

NOW we get into the squats. Side squats to be exact. At first I did them with 1 foot on the landing 1 on the 2nd stair. Full set but didn't like it. So dropped it down to the 1st stair and felt it a lot better. It burned in all the right places.

Of course there's the calf raises. Toes pointed forward, toes pointed out and one at a time. I could only do the 1st two and a very small number. My feet can't handle them, it's too painful.

Which is really frustrating because I've been told I have big calves...non defined big calves....not to mention being told I have cankles. Not to exclude my dr. telling me when I was 25 that I'll have cankles when I get older. This is how that went...

Me: my ankle swells up sometimes right here, is there anything you or I can do to reduce the fluid and swelling.
Dr.: No, there's nothing.
Me: So I can't ever get rid of this and have it go back to normal?
Dr.: No it will always be like that. And probably collect more fluid over time.
Me: So I'll have fat ankles when I'm older???
Dr.: Yes you will have fat ankles when you're older.
Me: staring at him at this moment in shock and sadness.

I sure love that Dr. P....
anyhoo...it's apparently a fact of life that I will have cankles and non shapely calves...*sigh* especially more so since I can't do anything that involves a calf workout thanks to my feet. thanks feet!

But let's get back to the stairs...((almost done, promise!))

There's also abs! Yep abs on stairs. Go to the top and lift those fat calved legs up...ok sorry, dwelling here, ahem sniff sniff...all better.
And do either bicycle or bringing the legs in for the crunch.

It was really hard for me to do these and stay focused. The darn emergency lights in the stairwell buzzed and every time I dipped back I would hear the buzz and it got very annoying. Every time. bzz..bzz..bzz..bzz. 15 times hearing this, I couldn't take it and stopped. I DID do another set and had to sing in my head to drown out the bzz sound.

I'm sure there are a ton more things you can do on the stairs (oh don't forget stretching on them too) but that's all I did.

What other things can be done on the stairs? I'd love to do them if you have any ideas of your own.

If you stuck around till this moment, thanks...I figure I'll be driving people away on this randomly boring post HOWEVER my point to all this is simply saying you don't need a gym to workout. If you have stairs in your home or apt. complex or even the bleachers at the high school (which is where I prefer to go) you can do all these and get a full body workout and the cardio...holy moly you will get your cardio in!


*Random Tip: Never ever ever ever shave while burnt. You will scream, cry, suck air through your teeth and cringe. And then have it all repeated once the hot shower water makes contact with your now offended skin.

Pin It Now!