Happy Hump Day!

Wednesdays not only mark the wrap up of a long week, but they mean that it's Pump It Up night.  Pump it up is my new favorite class because it gets me away from my comfort zone of cardio and gets me some good time with weights! Over the last week I have noticed that I now enter the area of the gym with the free weights without having to get forced.  I am starting to enjoy pumping iron, that's something I never thought I would say!

 

This week can be summed up in one word: homework.  That single word explains my lack of blogging this week and for that I apologize.  I have not met my goal of half hour of me time A SINGLE DAY this week :(  I am looking forward to my me time tomorrow though, I am going to the Blake Shelton concert tomorrow night with my friend Kenzie.  I cannot wait!  I promise to post pictures on Friday. 

 

So today I checked mail and got a wonderful surprise from my amazing trainer.  Her words of wisdom seem to be the only things that keep me going lately. I love checking my email on Mondays because I know that there will be an email from her with her goals for the week for all of the bootcampers at home.  I am counting down the days until I get to go home so that I can kick some butt at boot camp once again.  I cannot describe how much I have missed it.  Along with a wonderful note I got my first piece of LGN gear, I will definitely be repping LGN at my mini bootcamp this Saturday.  Thanks Sara!

 

 

Today was also made WONDERFUL by Annie suggesting I borrow one of her shirts. There was just one little problem when she handed me the shirt....it was a medium. So being typical Catherine, I said, Hun, there is no way in heaven that this shirt is going to fit me.  She replied with, "I think you might be surprised."  Guess what?  IT FIT!!! I cannot remember a time when I bought a medium anything.  It was definitely my pre-fifth grade years...I just can't believe that I was able to wear it (with room I may add).  I am so proud of myself and it goes to show me and anyone else who is eating clean at college that it does work and it is worth doing!  All of those ice creams you give up, totally worth the smaller size, stick with it, I promise it is the best feeling in the world.

Me in my first medium shirt since basically forever!

 

 

 Beginning of a fun night at Saint Johns!

 

 

If it weren't for this amazing friend I know for a fact that I wouldn't be where I am right now.  She has done everything that I needed her to do for me and keep me from doing!

She:

gets her butt kicked with me at all of these fun, new aerobics classes

tells me that as much as I want it the fro-yo from the dining center isn't worth it

reminds me to pack healthy snacks when we go over to SJU to avoid all temptations

lets me have one treat day a week (she talked me into my old fav coffee the other day...LOVE that)

wakes up at the crack of dawn Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings so that we can get our walk in before our 8 am

eats healthy food with me at the dining center

helps me brainstorm new ideas for staying on track

 

Keep in mind she is NOT following the same program that I am, but she stands by my side 1000%

 

I have no idea what I would be doing here without her.  When we go out she forgoes things that our friends are eating so that I am not tempted by the group. 

 

I don't think that I tell her enough how integral she is to my success!  Annie, I can guarentee you that I will make it to my goal by November 1st and it probably wouldn't be possible without you! OVAL YOU :)

  

Killing time on the LINK!

 

 

My words of wisdom for today are: find someone, wherever you are, that can help you.  You CANNOT do this alone.  It is a difficult journey, have someone by your side to lean on when you need to :)

 

Until Friday,

 

C 

 

Workin' it Weekends

So last night (Friday night), I lived it up, had dinner and played football with friends and then decided to call it an early night and hit the gym.  I was one of two people in the gym at 8pm on a Friday night...yeah I am so cool.  It was the first time this week I got a good running workout in, 45 minutes of sprint/walk intervals and then 35 minutes of weights.  IT FELT SO GOOD!!! This time alone was the first time all week that I could just clear my head...Finally!

 

This morning my friends and I decided to get up early and run the stadium stairs.  It was really nice that the guys wanted to come too, we did a "mini boot camp" on the turf. It was very fun and different.

Here's the rotation we did:
4 sets of stairs every step; sprint
4 sets of stairs every other; sprint
Square's (run up one flight, shuffle across the top, down the opposite way, shuffle, then up again.) (three times) 

(repeat ENTIRE set twice)

Run distance of the football field (build speed to sprint by 50 then slow to other goal post)
Lunges (width of the foot ball field)
Squats (width of the field, change directions half way)
Killers
(run to the 50 yd line, back, 40, back, 30, back, 20, back, 10, back)
20 push ups (different type each set, stagger, knees, slow, fast, triangle)
Latter runs on the yard markers (length of field)
(repeat twice)

We did this entire workout 4 times!  I think the guys were a little surprised that I was beating them up the stairs...those main street stairs have prepared me well.

Happy Saturday!

Until tomorrow,

C

Thank god it's Thursday.

This week is going to be the death of me.  As many of you know I like my life to be organized...this week has proven to be a challenge with new work schedules, workout schedules, classes, and tons of homework.  All of which have been discussed in previous posts, but I crave routine and this week has been a rough one.

Today was a rough one on the diet...
Here was my meal plan for today:

Breakfast (in my room since I had to be at work early)
4 oz chicken breast
1/4 c quinoa
1 banana

That's quite the breakfast...good way to get rid of left overs I guess.

Snack
1 mini whole wheat blueberry muffin

It was NOT a good idea to go into the dining center to fill up my water cup, I always come out with something extra

Lunch
1c skim milk
2 c vegetable stir fry (bamboo shoots, carrots, broccoli, zucchini, bean sprouts, snap peas, and mushrooms)
1/4 c brown rice
3 oz chicken breast
1-100 calorie pack of weight watchers dark chocolate

Snack
1 string cheese
1c cheesey quakes
2 pieces of dark chocolate (CAN YOU TELL I WAS STRESSED??)

Dinner
4 oz beef patty
1 piece of cojack cheese
2/3 c sauteed mushrooms
1/4 c sauteed onions
8 sliced pickes
1 T ketchup
1 1/2 c. Spinach Strawberry poppyseed salad (I AM IN LOVE with this new salad)
1/2 c peach frozen yogurt (my first dessert from the dining center!)

Study Snack
1 1/2 cups of natural popcorn

Activity
1 hour of pilates
45 minute walk
I am already sore, I wonder how I am going to feel tomorrow morning?

Although this week has been a real challenge emotionally I am trying my best. I know I will have weeks like this and they are okay!  One day of not working out or a couple of questionable snacks will not throw off your entire diet.  It is more important to change it and not let decisions like that happen every day!

This weekend I am going to focus on working out and really eating clean!  I will hopefully have some good news/ideas to report come Saturday.

C

Kickin' it.

SORRY GUYS! This post was supposed to be up yesterday, but for some reason, it didn't...read this one before STRESS :)


Last night, I took a zumba class for the first time this semester and it kicked my butt...literally.  So following the new training schedule that I worked out with Sara, naturally I had to take another new workout class today, step!  It was fun, but again it kicked my butt.  I went to step with Emily, thankfully we got the last two spots in the class. It was one heck of a sweat storm, but it was SO FUN! To give you an idea of how sweaty we all were, it was like a hot morning at boot camp, which to you non boot campers that means shirts are completely drenched and your hair is fresh out of the shower wet.  Gross, but it felt so good to get my butt kicked, with workouts like that, my goal is only a few short months away :)

 

My new workout schedule is:
Monday:
am-total body weights (1 hour)
pm-zumba (1 hour)

Tuesday:
pm-Step (1 hour)

Wednesday:
am-interval run (1 hour)
pm- Pump it up class (1 hour)

Thursday:
pm-Pilates (1 hour)

I am very nervous for this pilates class, me and flexability do NOT mix well, I will let you know how this baby goes.

Friday:
am-interval run (1 hour)
pm-zumba toning (1 hour)

Saturday:
am- stair intervals (1 hour)

Sunday:
Rest day :)
But anyone who knows me knows that I don't do rest days well...or like at all. So I usually go for a walk or leisurely bike ride to get some fresh air.

Today, my friend Annie had a meeting with our inspirational teacher and she stopped in my room on her way back and brought me this fun gift.  Our teacher is such an inspiration and these new books will help me develop more of an understanding in how to run longer distances and develop new running techniques for all of the races I want to do in the future. Thank you!!

Another happy moment today was getting an email from Sara saying that I made great nutritional choices my first week back at school.  I know that I have things to change and that it was a very stressful week last week, so simply hearing that news made it all seem worth it!

Until tomorrow :)

C

STRESS!!

Goodness gracious, it has been an INSANE last coulple of days.  I am barely keeping my head above water with the amount of homework, at least 2 hours of workouts, work, and oh yeah time for eating and socializing with friends.  I am currently a sophomore applying to get into the education department here at St. Ben's.  This has proven to be a challenge, getting a packet of information that needs to be filled out yesterday, essays to write, letters to get sent, evaluations to fill out, and it's due in less than a month.  It's all a bit overwhelming. 

I have been using my trusty planner and I cannot explain how crazy I would be without it. I am so (occasionaly over) organized, it definitely helps me de-stress a little.  I prefer to have every single minute of every day planned, so this week my goal is to spend 30 minutes a day on myself. 

Yesterday, I started a great book that one of my teachers lent to me.  It is called Run Like A Girl, I have seriously come to enjoy my time running since I began my journey, unfortunately I haven't had much time this week to get out and run.   I hope to spend some time on the pavement this weekend, my next 5k is coming up quick and in order for me to get my time down I need to legitimately kick it in gear. I like this book a lot so far, it follows many different types of women and their journeys, triumphs and tribulations while running.  It is nice to know that running doesn't come easily for a lot of women, I am SO not alone in my struggles.

I'm hoping to get into my normal routine again next week, it has been difficult with work starting yesterday. A new classroom full of eager kindergarteners makes for one heck of a day and night of preparations! 

Until tomorrow!

C

Motivation

My goal for this week is to create a "world" for myself  (at school) where I can be surrounded by motivation.  Last week was a hard week emotionally so I really want to do all I can to keep my spirits up and keep myself moving towards my goal.
Here are some things I've found helpful so far:

1) I have become extremely inspired by the ABC show Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition.  Watching their struggles with food and working out and getting to see how they look in the end really gets me going.  It helps me think about different things, I want to look that good, look, her and I have the same goal, if she can do it, so can I.  Thinking these things makes me want it even more.
I would definitely suggest you get caught up on this season!

2) I made myself a motivation wall, just a couple of simple sheets of paper that remind me of things I want to accomplish, why I am doing this, and daily reminders. I have a friend at school who is also trying to lose weight, she suggested I try this because it helps her to physically cross things off when she completes a task or goal. So I figured I'd give it a whirl, I will keep you posted as to how this is going over the next few months.

 Notice my workout clothes directly to the left of my motivation :)

3) Asking for help and support.  Today I recieved a card from Bailey, goodness did I need that.  Just knowing that other people are concerned about my well being and making sure that I stay on track helps me.  I have been missing my girls like crazy, it is so much different doing things without them, but it shows me that I want to work even harder so that when we are reunited we can do fun, active things together :)

I also reached out to Trainer Sara this week so that she could help me work out a plan with some aerobics classes as well as look at my food log from last week. 

It is A OKAY to ask for help, I know we all think we need to be strong, independent, self motivated people, but sometimes it helps to just get some new feedback or a new point of view on the things that you have gotten into the routine of doing.

4) Teachers.  After class today I met with a teacher who seemed to take a special interest in my weight loss journey after I shared it in a presentation last week.  Talking with her today I learned that she was also in my position at one point and she knows the struggles and offered her help and support whenever I need it.  It was so nice to know that someone here, so far from home, I have an ally. She is providing me with the support and resources I need to succeed.

All of these small things are making a huge difference in my level of determination.  The wedding is fast approaching and I really need to step up my game.  I am so excited to see what the next phase is in my journey, I know it is going to be a lot harder then the first phase, but I think I've got all the tools I need now to kick my goal in the butt. 

Stay strong!

Until tomorrow,

C

A day in the life

So today, I decided I am going to give you a break down of a "normal" meal plan for the day.

Breakfast:

2 egg omelete with mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, peppers, green onions and cheese, three slices of bacon, and a glass of milk.

It is super nice that school has a build your own omelette bar on the weekends, it is so nice to know that you are only getting what you want in your meal.

Lunch:

3/4 cup of Minestrone soup (DON'T FILL YOUR ENTIRE BOWL, eat in moderation)
1c cooked peas and carrots (always butter and season them yourself)
1 tsp butter
1/2 whole wheat high fiber wrap (I occasionally bring my own into the dining center)
1 piece of both colby and pepperjack cheese
1c unsweetened peach green tea
1 square of dark chocolate

Snack (post workout):
1 scoop of LGN protein powder
1c almond milk (unsweetened original)

Dinner: 

 

 

11/2 cups stir fry (bean sprouts, carrots, zucchini, baby corn, broccoli, mushrooms, snap peas, and garlic)
3 oz shrimp
3/4 c brown rice (I forgot my quinoa in my room :( )
1T Teriyaki Sauce
1 100 calorie pack of Weight Watchers Dark Chocolate (My new favorite candy, LOVE, definitely worth a shot if you are like me and need something a little sweet)

The picture was taken after 3/4 of it was gone, I promise, I totally forgot to take a picture until my lovely roomie reminded me...whoops!

Activity:
40 minute leisurely bike ride
Today was technically a rest day, but I always feel bad when I don't work out, especially if I splurge a little on the eating end of things for the day. I always prefer to throw in about a half hour of leisurely activity into my rest day, just to keep the muscles moving.

This is how I keep track of my eating, I tried doing it electronically on a fitness app, but it was hard for me to see all the nutrition facts of the things I was putting into my body.  Avocados were my worst enemy on the app...they are amazing for you, but when you see how much fat and calories are in one of those bad boys you get a little depressed.  So I talked to Trainer Sara about it and she suggested I jot it in a notebook and I have been doing it like that ever since. I really like the "therapy" of writing down all of the good things that I am doing and putting into my body each day,  I have also started writing how I feel that day and goals I want to try and accomplish for the next day!  A food journal is a great way to keep yourself on track because it is a shocker when you first see how much you are actually putting into your body. 

Until tomorrow!

C