What's been going on with me?

I don't like to always be super personal in my blog posts, but I know that in the past I've mentioned things here and there about what I'm doing when I'm not working out!

Well, I have been so busy lately. The Holiday's are fast approaching. I've been busy with work, baking, working out, hanging out with my boyfriend, hanging out with friends, and having tons of November birthdays! 

Truthfully, I've been falling off the blogging bandwagon. I struggle to find time in the day to make posts. There are some days that I feel like I will have time to sit and write, then I will have to work late or meet some other obligation that pops up out of no where. 

When I do have time to write, I will try to write like 3 or 4 blogs. I will have so much on my mind that I want to blog about, and I just can't stop until I get it out! I carry around paper scraps in my purse with blog ideas on them. 

Also, I've been really happy with the guy I've been dating and when I do find free time, I find ways to fill it by spending time with him. I'm still trying to find the perfect balance of everything I need to do and want to do. I'm sure it's nearly impossible to find the perfect balance for anything! Let me know if anyone has the perfect balance in their life, I would like to know what you are doing!

I'm really looking forward to the Holidays. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just love how that time of the year feels. I love everything about the holiday season. My boyfriend does not so much care for Christmas, but I think I will convert him. Who doesn't love Christmas??

Let's keep running

I found one of those running programs, kinda like the Couch to 5K things. I wrote it all out and did it from August 6 to October 14. I ran 3 times a week at a 1.0 incline each time. By the time I was done I was going over 3.5 miles. I felt great at the end, but I didn't know what to do next. I've been trying to jog/run for the past few weeks, but I've only been doing it once, maybe twice a week.

I can't get motivated unless I have something on paper to follow. I looked around for some different programs to follow, but it's been difficult to find something. I want to keep jogging in addition to my regular working out. 

So, I decided the other day that I was just going to start over with the one I've already done. I'm not trying to be a real runner. I just want something else to supplement my regular workouts. 

In another post I listed each week and how long to run each time. I'm going to start again today. I'm going to drink a few cups of coffee, watch Dr. Phil, and get my butt in gear to get this started again. 

I think this will be good for me to do again. I don't have a lot of time to try to run far distances or for long periods of time. This time around I can try to beat my distances each week by setting the treadmill at a little faster of a pace. 

Overall, I'm gonna keep on doing what I have to do to keep this weight off. OK, let me clarify that a little more....I'm going to do what I have to do in a healthy way to keep this weight off and still have a life that I'm comfortable with. 

So, wish me luck! It can be a big challenge to eat the right thing and eat in moderation. I've got the working out thing down. I have no problem going to the gym. In fact, I love it. I feel so good after I work out. 

Update, Update, Update.

What? November already? 

Well, this update won't be too long! I'm still MAINTAINING my weight. So, I'm still at 133 pounds lost. I was worried that I was not going to be able to even do an update, because the scale at the gym has been broken. I only use that scale. I feel like it's better to use the same scale for each weigh in.

I finished the running/jogging program I was doing. It was 10 weeks long and I completed those 10 weeks from August 6 to October 14. By the end I was jogging for 34 minutes and I was going over 3 miles! I also jogged on a 1.0 incline. I heard somewhere that jogging on a slight incline makes it more like jogging outside. 

After I finished my 10 weeks, I decided to take a jog outside at the local Reserve/Dam. It was a really nice fall day, and it seemed like an excellent idea. Well, treadmill jogging and outside jogging are super, super different! I was jogging for 6 minutes and it seemed like an eternity. I was exhausted. Don't get me wrong, I KNEW I wasn't going to be able to go for 34 minutes and make it over 3 miles. I was just hoping I would be able to jog for about 7-10 minutes, walk for a few, and then repeat a few times. NOPE, I was spent after those first 6 minutes! I had to revamp my exercise plans for the day and think of some other workout to do outside! Oh well, it was still a beautiful day and I'm glad I was outside. 

My work schedule is changing a little and my workout time is getting all effed up! Actually, it's not. I just have to go to a different gym location, but I'm not liking that gym too much. I shouldn't really complain. I should feel lucky that I can go to any gym that is part of the gym group I belong to. I also only have to go to that location one day a week. 

Overall, things are pretty damn good. I'm getting pumped for the Holidays and I love to do all my winter baking! I already started some of my baking. My boyfriend is pretty excited about all the baking because I need someone to be a taster for all my stuff. 

I am trying to catch up and read as many blogs as possible. I read them, but I don't really leave myself time to comment, but I promise I'm trying to keep up on what everyone is up to! 

Just some random babbling.

I finished my 10 weeks of running. By the end I was able to jog over 3 miles in my half hour. I was pretty impressed with that. I was jogging on the treadmill, and I was using an incline of 1.0. SOOOO, now that I've finished, I've been trying to think of how to continue jogging and using some kind of plan. I decided that I would jog outside this week, because it's been so nice. 

Well, jogging on a treadmill and jogging outside are very different! I was struggling to jog after 6 minutes! I figured it would feel different, but I didn't think it would feel like the first time I ever jogged! Next week will not be as nice, and the weather is probably just going to be awful from this point on too. I'm going to have to hit up the outdoor jogging when Spring rolls around. 

It's kinda funny, I was so against running on treadmills. Now, I only want to run on the treadmill. 

Anyway, I was at the gym this morning and I was thinking about how tired I was. It took everything in me to make it to the gym this morning. I was trying to come up with any reason to not go to the gym. Well, I went anyway; I was feeling guilty and I had to go. About half way through my workout, I started getting that awake, refreshed feeling. I love that I can go into the gym so tired and unmotivated, and part way through a workout that energetic feeling comes to me. 

I had that same feeling when I was jogging outside the other day too. I was in such a terrible mood; everything around me was like nails on a chalkboard. I decided to jog outside, and even though it was the worst jog I've ever had, I felt fantastic when I was done. My terrible mood went away. I was able to enjoy the rest of my day. 

I know that most of you reading this know what I'm talking about. I feel so accomplished and happy after I go workout. It's the best feeling. I bet that's why I keep going back. 

Overall, I've been pretty busy. It's been tricky to get to the gym some days, but I rely so much on my routine and doing things in the same order during the day. Having my daily routines makes everything so much easier, even though each day has a different routine!

October?? I guess I need an update!

So, let's get right to the point. Overall, I stayed exactly the same this month. No change in weight. Ok, really, I gained two pounds (according to my bod pod), but I weighed myself yesterday and I'm down two pounds. I'm going to mark that as "no change in weight". I wish I was really down two pounds and not playing catch up for eating too much, but I have to roll with the punches at this point. I'm trying to figure out how to live and keep a healthy weight. 

I'm still at 133 pounds gone, and it still blows my mind on a daily basis. Just the other day I was looking at a picture from my sister's wedding and I couldn't believe it was me. I was actually thinking, wow, I look really pretty. I really liked how I looked in the picture. It was kind of unbelievable, because I've spent so much time hating how I look in pictures. 

This is the picture I was looking at. 

Overall, I'm doing just fine. I'm working out 6 days a week, I'm running 3 days a week, and I'm not pigging out and stuffing my face! I'm beginning week 9 of the running program I'm following. If you don't remember, I think it's a lot like one of the Couch to 5K programs. It's been really good for me. If you are thinking about running, I suggest you find one of those programs to follow. It's not too time consuming, but you feel like you are accomplishing something!

I've been getting more compliments/advice at the gym too. It's like there's a new batch of people that want to talk to me about my weight loss of give me advice about losing weight. Most of the time I just smile and say thanks. I have to move on as quickly as possible because most of the advice is outrageous! 

One guy told me to lift less weight and spend more time in aerobics classes. I'm sure for some people that would work wonders, but I lost over 100 pounds by lifting weights, not going to aerobics classes. I'm not saying aerobics classes are bad and I have done some, but I just don't want that to be my regular workouts! 

I also, recently, had a little old man tell me to stop jumping around (doing plyos) and he told me that there was a mini trampoline for me to jump on over on the ladies side of the gym. He told me that all the equipment I needed was on the ladies side and that's why there is such a difference in the equipment on the ladies side and the co-ed side. I just stared at him! 

I've been on Pintrest a lot lately. I've been looking at recipes and there are so many on there! I've been revamping a lot of them to make them a little more calorie friendly. It's a great place to get new ideas. I've been really pumped about cooking and I'm doing better at planning meals and making dinners in advance. 

I'm hoping to make some good decisions in October and see it I can't lose a few pounds! 

Let's catch up

Well, I was on a roll there for about a week! I was able to post like 3 times! Crazy, I know.

Anyway, since then I've had a lot going on. 

1. I turned 30. Woo hoo! I had an awesome Mexican Fiesta Birthday party at my mom's house. Not the healthiest night, but I had fun and I'm glad I let loose on my birthday. Ok, I had some bomb-ass Mexican food (made by my mom) and 5 beers. I fell asleep on the couch at 11 PM and my friends were still hanging out in the back yard. What can I say, I'm not much of a drinker these days!

2. I had a bod pod. Not proud to admit it, but I gained about 2 pounds in the last 3 months. I have to rethink some things and figure out how to live my life the way I want to live and still not gain all this weight back. It's a very difficult thing. I want to feel like I'm getting to do and eat what I want, without going overboard, but still continue to lose a few more pounds and whatnot. I know there is a way to do it. I know there is a way to be happy and healthy. I just have to find it again. I used to be able to follow meal plans to a T and be happy and healthy. Now, I'm feeling unhappy when I'm following a meal plan. I feel like I have no freedom to live and make my own choices. I feel like I'm letting Zach and Janelle down if I don't follow a meal plan. I'm in an awkward spot in my weight loss. I need figure out what direction I want to go. 

3. I'm still running. I'm in week 8 of the plan I've been following. It's crazy to think that I've been following for this plan for 8 weeks. I'm jogging for about 30 minutes at a time. CRAZY! The entire time I'm on the treadmill I'm in total disbelief that I am even running. Some days I think it's just too good to be true! I mean, me.....running? I guess so! I'm able to go a little further each day and each week. I can go over 2.5 miles in my 29 minutes this week! I think that's pretty damn good!

4. I swear, I'm reading your blogs too! I just read them on the fly between my classes that I teach and on my breaks from other random jobs. It just gets hard to comment! So, keep reading and I'll keep reading yours!

Some new pictures

I was scrolling through my blog the other day and saw that I haven't posted many pics lately. I don't really have many pics to put up, but I do have a few from my sisters wedding and one really cool picture a friend got of the the other week. 

Anyway, not much to talk about; just wanted to put up a few pics!

My sis got married at a car museum. I got to
hang out on some sweet cars!

My sisters and myself.

A picture that a friend got the other week.
He caught me off guard, but it turned
out to be a good pic!

And.....I'm still running.

Ok, the running is working out for me. It's only 3 days a week and each week is different. I've seen and heard that this is a lot like the Couch to 5k set up. That's cool if it is, but I'm not running a 5k at the end! I just want to run to add more into my workouts. 

So, I'm in week 6 right now. Honestly, I think following this weekly running schedule is making time go faster. I'm not sure how I've already done this for 6 weeks. 

At the end of the 10 weeks I need to find a different thing to follow. I need something on paper that is telling me what to do. I'm going to do some research on the Internet. I can find anything out there!

Overall, when I'm running/jogging I am in disbelief the entire time. I honestly can't believe that I'm running. I can't believe that I'm pushing myself. I can't believe that I'm pushing the little button to increase my speed and push myself to run a little further each time I run. 

It's crazy, totally crazy. I almost want to tell everyone that walks by me how amazing it is.

I do get a lot of time to people watch on the treadmill. I love to people watch and my gym has no shortage of interesting characters. I bet everyone else sees a bunch of interesting characters at their gym too. 

Sometimes I can't believe what people wear to the gym, talk about at the gym, or even some of the crazy workouts they do at the gym. Sometimes I think I'm being "Punked" and that douche Ashton Kutcher is going to jump out. 

Update

My updates have been behind lately. Sorry! I'm still weighing myself when I'm supposed to. I just don't get on here in a timely manner to get my status out there!

Well, August was another month where I didn't lose, but I also didn't gain. I'm still at 133 pounds lost. 

I'm consistent with the working out. I think I actually work out more these days. I know for a fact that working out will be part of my routine for the rest of my life. Sometimes, the food still scares me. I'm afraid of slowly slipping back into bad habits and over eating habits. I know I'm not the only one that has that fear, but it's scary! 

I get nervous when I know I'm going to a cookout, party, night out with friends, etc. I get worried that I'm going to "get out of control" with the food. I know I'm still learning how to eat in moderation. I'm working hard to make it the norm and not something I have to think about every time I step out the door. 

Looking ahead....

I have to get a bod pod soon. I'm trying to get one scheduled for this week. 

September is my favorite month, because it is my birthday month. I seriously celebrate for the whole month. This year I'm going to be 30. I'm not really worried about it though. I'm healthier now than I have really ever been in my whole life. 

Getting personal.....

I'm ready for all of my teaching jobs to kick back into gear! I'm ready for my routine to be more routine! 

Now that summer is winding down I really feel like I can get back on track. I've been slacking a little too much on the meal plan. I've been maintaining and not losing. I need to and want to lose this last little bit of weight. 

Honestly, I've been happy....for about the past 6 months. Really happy. I've not been mentioning it, but I've been seeing someone for the past 6 months and I couldn't be happier. He is the best guy I've ever dated. 

He's the first guy I've dates since I've started all these meal plans and working out and whatnot. I've been learning how to eat on schedule, work out, and have a functional adult relationship with this guy in my life!

I've got the working out under control, but I'm still figuring out the whole eating thing again. He knows what I've been doing. I was upfront from the first day I met him about doing everything on a schedule. The whole discussion about mass weight loss came a few weeks later. 

I've gotta tell ya, it's been easy to have him in my life. Like I said, the whole working out thing is not an issue. It's the food that is tripping me up. And I've also gotta tell ya, he makes me feel absolutely beautiful; saggy skin and all.

I used to worry about how I appeared to other people; especially guys. Now, I could care less. He thinks I look great in jeans and a t-shirt. 

However, it can make it hard to focus because he is always making me feel so good about how I look. It can make it easy to "cheat". I know, I know, what a silly thing to complain about.......he makes me feel great, and it's hard to focus on my eating.....blah, blah....I'm sure you all just threw up a little in your mouths. 

I've had an awesome summer hanging out with him. He wants to do active things too. It's not problem to get him to go for a walk, play putt putt, go bowling, etc.... but I'm ready for there to be less free time and more work time! I think once my schedule fills back up I will be able to focus better on the meal plans. 

Oh...his name is Josh, and he's the awesome.