Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Shrinkvivor: Week 4 Challenges

Shrinkvivor Weekly Challenges #3


Each week we are given a new set of challenges. I will admit so far I haven't been doing as well as I should. And I would be suprised if I am not reporting from Exile Island next week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but....

This week my own challenge to myself is to not let myself get so overwhelmed that I don't make time to do the things I need to do for ME... like exercise. 

The Shrinkvivor challenges this week are: A min. of 5 fruits and veggies a day, no fast food, drink 1/2 your body weight in water daily. The fitness challenge is to log your fastest mile... wondering how fast I can go..

Now I have that song that features Alvin from Alvin in the Chipmunks " How low can you go" instead "How fast can you go, how fast can you go" Great! 

Shrinkvivor Week #3

Shrinkvivor Weekly Challenges #3


Week #3 Weigh in is upon us already. My life these days are somewhat of whirlwind, and at times I don't even know what day it is. I have been working OT for the past several months, and am about at the end of my rope. I haven't been feeling well the last week or so, I think my body is trying to tell me to rest or it's going to make me rest its way (which I don't want).

When it comes to weight loss, I have been like a yo-yo. Up and down, Up down and this week back up again 1.5. I am frustrated because I know I didn't do what I needed to see improvement on the scale. I just can't seem to find the energy after getting up at 4:30ish working an extra two hours a day then making an hour (or more) commute, making dinner and cleaning up the mess. After all that I'm ready to just fall out on the couch. I know I need to find time to implement some exercise if I am going to get anywhere on this weigh loss journey...but where? Can we add a few more hours to the day? Shorten the work day? Something... cause I can't seem to fit it all in.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells....

Yes this is the song that I have stuck in my head at the moment. I have been attempting to teach myself how to play the guitar and jingle bells is one of the few songs I can play so far. So playing this for the last few weeks has kind of gotten me into the Christmas mood already.

Its almost October already, where has this year gone??!! I decided to start shopping for Christmas early (like I used to do) and be finished with it by Thanksgiving. I made a few purchases tonight, I am hoping to really be finished by Turkey Day.

I hate the stress of trying to shop when it gets closer to Christmas, the crowds at the stores, worrying about not being able to find what you are looking for,etc. Plus, shopping early a little at a time makes it a little easier on the bank account too.

So, what about you? Have you started thinking Christmas yet?

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Shrinkvivor Week #2

Shrinkvivor Challenge at the Sisterhood!






Wow! This week went by super fast! I somehow almost totally forgot today was Wednesday. But whew! I made it to post my weight in for this week. This week has been totally freakin crazy!! All I have been doing is working overtime and attempting to sleep. Sleep is something that is not coming very easily for me. I have no down time, working overtime tied in with my hour (or more) commute, but the time I get home and make dinner, its time to go to bed.

So in saying that, I did not get in many miles this week. Not nearly as many as I had wanted to. But with the sleep issues I am having, I surely do not wanna be doing exercise close to going to bed. I am having hard enough time winding down and going to sleep. But enough about that.

I am down to 207 this week. That is a 1.5 pound loss for the week. I will take it! Will be doing my best to figure out some way of getting in more activity with all of the craziness of working overtime.



Derringer

A few weeks ago we brought Bobby's cat Derringer to live with us. Bobbys parent's had been previously keeping him where he was confined to a very small room in the house, thanks to the big "mean" dog they also have lol. We all decided it would be best for Derringer to have room to roam and not have to worry about a big dog trying to eat him.

The night we loaded Derringer into the carrier, he was scared to death, meowed constant and loudly all the way home. And I do mean all. the. way. home.  We get him here he is afraid to get out of the carrier then runs to one of the back rooms and is out of sight. For a few days we had no idea where he was.

I being worried about him (and the thought of what he could be doing to my belongings) and grabbed a flashlight and started out on the mission to find him. He was balled up in the far back corner of the bed in the spare bedroom where no one could get to him. After about an hour of me trying to coax him out, and him moving from one side of the bed to the other. Hissing and batting his paw at me... he FINALLY decided to come out of hiding.

It was very slow at first and he was extremely timid and EVERYTHING made him jump. Since that night.. he has adjusted very well and has made himself feel right at home including... sleeping on our bed.

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I have heard that when dogs and cats sleep on their backs (feet in the air lol) that is a sign that they are happy and content....... he must be very happy with his new home

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We went out and bought him a few cat toys. Guess what he decides he wants to play with.... Somewhere, somehow he found the pull tab off of a gallon of milk. That folks, is his toy of choice. Coulda saved my money lol

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Recipe: Fresh Broccoli Salad

You may think you wouldn't like this dish by looking at the ingredients, but let me tell you this is super yummy! The recipe in its present form is not one that is easy on the waistline, but can be tweaked by using light or fat free mayo instead of regular mayo, and using turkey bacon instead of regular bacon,etc.



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Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Ready in: 30 mins

Ingredients:

2 heads of fresh broccoli
1 red onion
1/2 pound bacon ( I used the pre-cooked, so cook time was about a min in microwave)
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar ( I used red wine vinegar)

Place bacon in a deep skillet and cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Cool and crumble.

Cut the broccoli in bite-size pieces and cut the onion into thin bite size slices. Combine with bacon, raisins, almonds; mix well.

To prepare the dressing, mix the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar together until smooth. Stir into salad and let chill and serve.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The "New" Addition

Several weeks ago my fiance, Bobby moved in with me. Included in his belongings was this:

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His cat Derringer (all of his pets at one time were named after guns...yeah, don't get it either). Up until this point Derringer had been residing with Bobby's parents because he couldn't have him where he had been living. We thought the cat would be better off in a home where there were not other animals to harrass him.

I have never had cat, and have not been much of a cat person/lover. Dogs are more my thing. Have had dogs on and off most of my life. So I am not really sure what I am instore for with a cat. Not sure what to expect or what to do with a cat.

Derringer is a very friendly cat, and is always wanting attention. So much that it is annoying when you are trying to do something or when I am trying to rush to get ready and out the door in the morning.

I think having Derringer around will be fine... but he's just not a dog.

Shrinkvivor Week 1

Shrinkvivor Challenge at the Sisterhood!


New challenge @shrinkingjeans, shrinkvivor started TODAY. I am apart of Tribe Lilac, with a awesome group of gals that I can't wait to get to know. I'm a little nervous about this challenge because you never know what the sisterhood has in store for the weekly challenges that we are gonna be facing. I am super excited though to be participating in this awesome challenge.

This challenge goes hand-in-hand with my 39 week challenge I have given myself. Thirty nine weeks until I will be going on my honeymoon, a cruise to Bermuda. I want to get healthy and fit. What a better way to do this than with the sisterhood.

Today was "opening day" our first weigh in. Last week I really slacked with everything, since I was on vacation. I knew the number on the scale would probably go up, but it wasn't as bad as I anticipated *happy dance* I attempted to take a picture of the scale to help keep myself accountable, but the cat would not leave me alone long enough... he kept standing on the scale in front of my feet. So you will just have to take my word for it. (If I was gonna lie, I'd make myself look alot better than this lol) This week I am at 208.5, that is 1.5 up from last week.

How did everyone else do????

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

You Capture Signs

Signs, Signs everywhere a sign. Blocking up the scenery........ and you all know how the song goes. Thats what popped into my head when I saw the assignment for last week. I was vacationing in Virginia Beach, prior to knowing what the assignment entailed, I saw all kinds of interesting things that would have been GREAT for this post. But of course once I knew what I was to look for and have the camera in hand... nothing.

I was able to capture this sign (which I thought was kind of interesting)

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This sign is posted all over Virginia Beach. When I first saw this, it was actually on a T-shirt in one of the novelty stores. At first I thought it was some sort of joke. I later realized after reading another sign that was also posted, and seeing the above sign everywhere it was no joke.

This sign is a no profanity sign. If caught you will be fined. Yes I am serious! They also have a law that states that you will be fined if you are caught wearing revealing or inappropriate attire in public! WOW!

I say kuddos to VA Beach for keeping it a family place, but wow!

Vacation

Last week my fiance and I were on vacation in Virginia Beach.

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We had a great time! Ate lots of food, did lots of walking, and caught a few rays and waves too.

While we were there we were able to visit the Virginia Beach Marine Musem, listen to some live Blues music and on Saturday, all major roads were shut down for the Shriners Parade. Which I must say had some interesting things in it to be seen.

We did alot of relaxing and acting goofy as well.

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Although we were totally exhausted by the end of the week and really needed a vacation after our vacation to rest, we had a great time and didn't want to come home!

Friday, September 3, 2010

After the move

Today is a week since we made the move from Leesburg to Martinsburg. I spent last Friday, Saturday and Sunday moving, cleaning and doing my best to put away and make room.. each day I worked myself to complete and utter exhaustion. I have also been working overtime at work. A week later, still working the OT, still trying to get things put away and find a place for everything, and still exhausted.

I went from waking up for work at 6 am to waking up at 4 or 4:30 am (depending when I am going in and if I am carpooling. Today I was able to sleep until 4:45!!! I didn't have OT and I drove myself to work.  I am wondering if I will ever get used to waking up that early. I don't know how I ever did it.

All I wanna do is sleep.... but when I go to bed I'm so exhausted I can't sleep. 

Did I mention between all this unpacking, Bobby and I are on vacation next week and instead of staying home and getting things situated and relaxing, we are going to the beach. Normally I would be super excited about the beach. However, looking around and seeing all the mess and all the work that needs to be done... I can't really get excited about coming back to all this chaos.

I feel like I am the only one doing hardly anything to get this place organized and back to some type of normalcy. He acts like if he spends a few minutes hanging a picture or two he's done something for the day.  So yes, I am also very frustrated.

Although I am hesitant about being away for a week, I think it will do us both some good. I know I can use a week to relax, and do nothing except what I want.  One problem.... 'cause Earl (hurricane earl)had to do die... goodbye... earl.. na na na hey hey  Hopefully all will be well with the weather and the ocean will have calmed down enough by Tuesday for us to enjoy a little bit of time actually on the beach and in the water.