California!

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I don't think I have mentioned it in my blog, but my hubby is a musician. He's always been a musician, but currently, he is working musician. The band that he is playing with is doing very well and it looks like we will be going out to California in the spring for group of shows. Yes!!! I am SO excited. This is another motivating factor for me, because California means sun, sea, and beach appropriate clothing, ie....skin baring clothing. We are going to Northern CA and so the plan is to take an extended trip and visit Napa and San Fran. Love, love, love Northern CA. Hubby has never been so I am very excited to be able to see the sights with him.

I have been very focused this week. I realize it is only Wednesday, but I feel very good about my efforts this week. I have been very careful about my nutrition, being sure to track every morsel of food that hits my mouth and painstakingly count calories.(which I dislike, but realize I have to do it, otherwise I will eat mindlessly and rack up huge calorie numbers for the day). I had visited a nutritionist a few months ago and we figured out my calorie deficit target. I have been able to stay within my calorie target for the last three days (I consider this huge progress, for me) and I have worked out in the office gym twice. This means that I am hitting my calorie deficit. Yes!

I'm thankful.....today is Wednesday, which means I am half-way through the work week, The Office is on tomorrow, and Friday night is my pumpkin carving party!

Back from a break

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I hadn't realized that it's been so long since I last blogged. Time flies when you're having fun, I suppose. My hubby said that all of my followers would be wondering what happened to me. Ha, all one of you. (But yay for one follower!)

Well, I've been on vacation for most of the time. Actually, a staycation. I took about a week off from work and it was fantastic! I feel rested and ready to roll. Hubby and I celebrated our 5th anniversary of marriage and had a lovely time celebrating. I haven't been super careful about my nutrition though, so it's time to get back on track. I started tracking my food again today and I'm back to counting calories (which I hate), but it's necessary because calories have a way of sneaking up on me. I also got back into the gym today and will start strength training as well as doing the standard cardio routine.

It's good to be back!

Today, I'm thankful for ...

my sweet hubby
a steady job
that my parents made it to NY safely today

It's Oh So Quiet

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Ahhh....finally winding down after another busy day. Work is seriously kicking my butt this week. I am covering for a colleague who is currently enjoying a Mediterranean cruise. Sigh. But, it's hump day, so the weekend is approaching along with a much needed break.

I had church after work tonight so I was not able to do cardio, but plan to after work tomorrow. I've got my gym bag packed already and waiting to go in the car in the morning. Now, I think I am off to bed. So sleepy!

Today, I am thankful for....

..... my sweet hubby and a nice comfy bed (similar to this one) to climb into in approximately 5.2 minutes. :)

feelin' guilty

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Had a rough day.....work was crazy. I hadn't really craved The Candy Jar, but I did give in today and grabbed some chocolate out of the jar. I immediately felt guilty. Not because I had chocolate, because I don't really believe in completely depriving myself. One or two little pieces would have been acceptable. Unfortunately, I grabbed more like 10 pieces and devoured them. Boy, they were good. The steaming hot bowl of guilt that accompanied the chocolate was less than pleasant. I had also fully intended to work out tonight before leaving The Office, however I ended up working until almost 9pm and by that time all I really wanted to do was go home. So I did. Other than the candy, I stuck with my eating plan and did really good. Hopefully, it will all balance out.

I arrived home and ate a bit of dinner (roast beef) and settled in to watch Melrose Place on DVR. Starting to feel a little better now.

Today, I am thankful for....

....my DVR. (What? That's the best I can do right now.)

Monday Madness

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This morning started off nice and easy but by 10 am my workload increased to a frenetic pace and was non-stop until 7pm. However, I had several victories today. I was able to A) completely avoid my neighbor's candy jar and B) I STILL worked out before I went home for the night. YES!!!

I am so proud that I stuck with my plan today. I ate breakfast (oatmeal), the lunch I brought (turkey sandwich, snack size bag of fritos, kiwi, and had a healthy snack (yogurt, small apple, 2 tbsp peanut butter.) For dinner I had (grilled fajita chicken, 2 corn tortillas, 1/4 c. beans and 1/4 c. rice and 1/2 c. sherbet.) Plus, even though I had a rough day and was tired, I stuck with the plan and worked out anyway. I feel great.

Tonight was spent enjoying our mexican take-out and watching our DVR'd episodes of The Office, Big Bang Theory and CSI Miami. I am so excited that Jim and Pam are getting married in this week's episode. Finally!!!

Today, I am thankful....

....that as crazy as my job is sometimes, I am gainfully employed. Because a lot of people aren't right now.

Sunday Weigh-in

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Well, weigh-in day has arrived, and as I suspected, I did not lose any weight. I did, however, gain 2.8 lbs. I am not going to freak out about this because I am 98% certain this is water weight. I picked a lovely week to start my weight-loss endeavor. Anyway, hubby reminded me that I should take measurements and track more then just poundage. He's right. Here goes:

(cringe)

B: 44

W: 45 1/4

H: 58

I am all set for this week with meals planned out, snacks ready to go, and work outs scheduled for M-T-Th-Sat. Goals for this week are:

1) Cardio 4 times this week

2) Weight routine 2 times

3) 1600 cal daily

4) Track food

5) 64 oz water daily

Today I plan to do some things around the house and then get ready for book club tonight. I am taking whole-grain crackers, cheese and hummus, along with a good chardonnay. I plan to only have one glass of wine and stick with the healthier fare at the gathering. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone! We are discussing All About Lulu. Should be fun!

Today, I am thankful...

.....that I'm staying positive and not letting myself get discouraged.

Hitting the Mark

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I spent three hours wandering around Target this afternoon. I went in for groceries, but the store wasn't that busy and it was so much fun just perusing the aisles. I cannot express how much I enjoy shopping in Target. Ahh, so many cute things. I really tried to remain focused on groceries. Necessities. So I didn't even venture over to electronics, bed and bath or accessories and I still thoroughly enjoyed myself. I also visited the red Kitchen Aid mixer. I am going back to get it one of these days.

We have been on a strict budget since the beginning of August. We are working on getting rid of some debt and saving money to buy a piece of land on which to build our next house. The point is that due to our budget, I have cut out nearly all unnecessary spending. And previously, I was a shopping fool. So, it turns out that ANY shopping is fun, and it doesn't necessarily matter WHAT I'm shopping for. Even grocery shopping is fun.

I picked up alot of fresh foods and healthy snacks to take to The Office. I also chose meals for the week and bought the required ingredients so we won't be tempted to eat out.

Well, tomorrow is weigh-in day. I won't lie, I'm nervous. I know I'm retaining water, so we'll see what happens. Hopefully if nothing lost I will at least have maintained. At any rate, I'm all set with food for next week and have my workout schedule set.

Lucky Ducky

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Wow! What a day! Serendipity, all day long.

At lunch time, a co-worker and I headed out for lunch and we decided to go to a local restaurant, Shady Grove. We didn't think for a minute, however, that today thousands of people are in town for the Austin City Limits music festival--a destination in which this particular restaurant is practically across the street from. So we pull up and are told that the charge is $25 to park at the restaurant. We plead our case as downtown corporate office dwellers and are graciously allowed in sans $25 bucks. Yippeee! A delicious lunch and no parking fee!!

We returned to the office to discover that our CEO had sent an email informing us that our office will close for the day at 4pm. What?! I work 9am-6pm, so woohoo, I get to leave work 2 hours early on a Friday? On a payday? Could this day get any better?!

Tonight has been spent making dinner, watching a movie with the hubs and totally relaxing. Bliss!

I have managed to post every day and am loving it. It's incredibly cathartic and entertaining all at the same time. I love reading blogs from the amazingly funny and genuine people that I have had the pleasure to come across in the last week. It is very reassuring to read the struggles, mishaps, adventures and general shenanigans of women, in particular, that seem to mirror my own in so many ways. And I've even had a handful of comments, which is so exciting! Thank you, Melissa, Ex Hot Girl, and Insatiable Host--for the lovely compliments, encouragement and in general the "hey we are with you" feeling that I got from your comments. I would tag your fabulous blogs in my post, but I am a newbie and have no clue how to do that.


Today, I am thankful....

...that I reached another person today. (Thanks, Insatiable Host!)

p.s. Is anyone else just a little creeped out by the gaggle of rubber duckies? The more I look at them the creepier they get. One rubber ducky = cute. Fifty rubber duckies with 50 pairs of eyes staring at me = Steven King material.

Feel the burn

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I started working out again this week after a seriously long hiatus from all things healthy and my body is confused and possibly staging a revolt.

I started out slow so as not to shock my body, but man I am feeling it. And not just in that "Oh, I worked out and now I feel that soreness that lets me know I am building muscle" kind of way. What I'm feeling is that "Oh my 80 year old body just can't get around as well as I used to" sort of way.

I was back on the elliptical today anyway, and I did 22 minutes today. My plan is to increase slowly in both intensity and time. I think I need to download new tunes for my work out sessions. Going on to the To Do list for the weekend.

Weigh-in is on Sunday and I am looking forward to see the scale move. I'm a little nervous because I know that I am going to be retaining some water so I really need to watch the salt this weekend. I'm ready to make some progress!

Today, I'm thankful for....

• the exuberance with which the pup greets me at the end of the day.
  
• The Office. The show and not the one I spent my entire day in.
• Weekends!!!! Enough said.