Mother's Day and beyond

Hello all.

First off, thanks to you guys for your kind and encouraging words. It truly is appreciated. You guys may be my virtual e-friends but, it is nice to have a few kind words.

Now, the last few days have been stressful and emotionally draining. So today I get up, get dressed and head to the gym!! How funny is that? I actually did not gorge myself with horrible food and sit and wallow in self-pity. I went to the gym and had a great workout. Then took my mom for horrible food and made the best possible choices I could with the menu I had to work with. (my mom's favorite food is Italian.....)

I am sure the scale will show it. But, hey, I don't weigh in for a couple of days so maybe I can fix it some. I don't see it happening though. But, I have to take the bad with the good and roll with the punches.

To all you mom's - I hope you had a great day.

For Mother's Day I got a brand new shiny.... I am completely excited because not only did I get that, I got this to go with it!!!

I love new gadgets!!

taebo.diva

today my dad died

yes, we were close.

He was not old. Only 65.

He had Alzheimer's. I suppose in all true honesty, he was gone/died a couple of years ago because of it.

Shit.

good morning all!

Hope you are all having a great day.

I just got off of the treadmill and am feeling it now. I love working out in the a.m. before work. It just sets the day...

So this week I started the C25K. (If interested, there is the program I am doing) I wasn't going to post about it, just do it. BUT, I decided "Why not?" I should post abouit it and have that accountability to myself. If I write it down, I am more likely to succeed. Something about goals being written down and folllowing through.

My lunch is steaming so I can pack it soon. (veggies and then turkey with red bell pepper on whole wheat tortilla) Yumm-o. Snack is yogurt.

Nothing else happening here. How mundane and boring, I know.

Take care and get that workout in!

taebo.diva

hhhmmmm - now they

have added advertisements directly above. (see it right above this post?)

Or has it been there and I have never noticed it?

Last week's results

are in and they aren't too bad. At least I am happy with them.

I am down 2 more pounds!!

Most of last week's goals were met:

Cardio - minus 1 day. Only 4x instead of the 5x. I did mow the lawn on that day and pull weeds, though.

Weights - 4x

Ate clean every day with the exception of an egg roll. ARGH!! It was really good. The one's from Jack in the Box. As much as I enjoyed it and still lost 2 lbs., I know I can't do this every week.

I took my measurements and I am down 5.5 inches. 1 inch in the "girls" 1 inch in the waist, 1 inch in each of the thighs, 1 inch in the hips and 1/2 in. in biceps. I am editing this to add:  the inches lost are NOT in the last week. I take measurements monthly. (But, 5.5 inches in a week - I will take that any 'ole day)

All-in-all, these are results I am happy with.

I am sitting here downloading music from iTunes as I type. You guys are going to laugh at the one I am getting.... that is so stinking funny. yes, several more. And definitely more current. Something to work out at the gym with. (I won an iTunes gift card at work.)

Have a great night. I have to go write down today's workout at the gym.

taebo.diva

i am a big girl

and I know it. There is no doubt in my mind. Let me say it again:   "I know it."

I can say this, I carry my weight well. That is no excuse for my being overweight, but the simple truth. I could make several excuses for my being overweight, but I don't. All for 1 simple reason, excuses are like bung-holes, everyone has one and THEY ALL STINK.

So my life change, or epiphany (sp) came and I thought I would make changes since I once was slim and trim and athletic and worked out and was healthy.

Here I am. Making changes to do what I need to do to feel good about me. Not feel good about you. (read that one again if you need) All for me. (note, "you" is not really You - the person reading....)

It may be just plain and simple vanity that keeps me running and working out almost daily, but I will do it. Or it may be that picture of "My butt is big and round like...." that I have taped to my refrigerator but, I will do it.

So, please don't stare at me just because I am a large woman in a gym. What the hell is a gym for? We all are not here to conversate and be cute and wear a full face of make up and never break a stinking sweat.

I am here to S-W-E-A-T. I have plenty of time to be cute later.

So, move over you skinny little thing that looks down your nose at me. You look hungry. Go eat a piece of cheesecake.

tan fat vs. white fat

Yes. I personally think tan fat looks better than white fat. Just me. I could be wrong.

Think of the "before" and "after" photos you see in magazines. Hello? Yes, there is a weight loss and overall physique improvement but, they are always TAN!!

So, I decided to get me a nice bronze tan...all from a bottle. AND, I am loving it!! I get more compliments and comments on my great new tan and here is what I am using. It's not like the 'ole "QT" from back in the day when I walked around the color of orange!! Does anyone besides me remember that stuff?

So at work yesterday there was all kinds of nonsense and drama. (Thank goodness I am never involved - knock on wood) Just B.S. "he said, she said." So, I go to the gym after work. I ended up staying there for 1 hour and 45 mins. I had sweat in places....eee gad. Down in my booty crack and everything.  Just thought I would share that nice little detail.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and staying on track!

tabo.diva

Whew-weeee

Gosh - I am tired as hell.

Last weeks goals met:

cardio 5x per week - even kicked it up a notch and added 5 minutes to each cardio session.

weight training 4x per week - kicked this up a notch by doing a minimum of 8 exercises at 3 sets each and the last set was to the point of failure.  Can I get an AMEN??!!

and yes, ate clean all week.

And the fruits of my labor paid off!! (Insert drumroll here....) I lost 2 lbs this last week!!  Yiiiipppeeeee!!

So, what I found was that eating clean and stepping up the intensity of my workouts are paying off. The first week of eating clean was great and I still lost a pound. BUT, by adding more intensity (not just the added extra 5 minutes) to my cardio and weight training is keeping things at a higher rate.

Oh yes....I am now drinking approximately 2 gallons, and some days a little more, of water. And trust me, I am not forcing it in. I am literally thirsty. By working out more at that higher intensity is making me quite parched. (i am also walking about 1 mile x 5 nights per week to get my dogs out)

Do you guys know what a stye is? Well, I am having my first and horrible experience with one of those things. Mine is not on the eyelid, but underneath the eye, near the nose. I woke up with my eye hurting this a.m. and by 1:30 my eye was almost swollen shut. Needless to say, went to the dr. and she just stared at it. She had to squish it and now I can see, but it sure does hurt like the dickens. (What is a "dickens?") She wanted to put me on steroids...UH, NO. I explained to her that I am losiing weight and need nothing to get my appetite raging.....she just laughed and gave me some type of eyeball steroid drops.

So, hope everyone else is having a grand night and take care, write when you can.

Peace and love and all that jazz...

taebo.diva

just running through...

Here is a great article on metabolism:

Can you really change your metabolism?

From a Registered Dietician (R.D.) and just goes to show that "eating clean"  to include whole grains, fruits and veggies and  incorporating weight training will get you there!!

Take care-

taebo.diva

My favorite finds...

Good morning all. (Still morning here) I am having a cup of coffee. definitely hitting the spot right now.

I have a few favorite finds for the time being. "What are they?" you ask, or not, but here they are anyways: (i almost feel like Oprah..)

• International Delight French Vanilla Creamer NO SUGAR!! OMG - life is complete. Now, when you go the website and click on the link for the sugar-free version, it is actually not the same as what is on the bottle. They have the calories listed as 20 but on the bottle it is 15. BUT, NO SUGAR!! woo-hoo!!
• Lean Dessert Protein Powder - this has to be some of the best protein powder I have ever used. I usually buy it when it is on sale at vitamin shoppe - and right now it is!! If you do not live near a vitamin shoppe, you get free shipping from the first website. I have to tell you guys, this is some of the best tasting protein I have ever had. NO added sugar.If you add 2 scoops, it is thicker, almost the consistency of a chocolate mousse. (I only add 1 scoop though, don't want the extra calories) This morning I had the vanilla with FF milk, a banana, and ice all in a blender and it is the best!! I like all of the flavors - haven't tried the chocolate coconut. And, Monica Brant endorses it - her physique is awesome...i can say that....and be totally okay with that....
• and, yes, my ever-so-versatile Magic Bullet. Get your mind out of the gutter!! it's not that!! A true, master-of-everything kitchen gadget. Buy 1, get 1 free from the website/link. AND you get the one with the juicer attachment!!

Ok, that is enough for now. I know, a lot of links in there. (I am quite excited I taught myself how to do that)

I tend to learn a lot from others when they tell me about their favorite things - especially if it's something I have never tried just because I didn't want to spend the money and then be disappointed.

So, there you go. My favorite finds and how I feel about them.

Have a great on-plan day and take care. I am off to run some errands and then to the gym. And prolly to the movies. Mondays are great when DH is at work and kids are at school.....

taebo.diva

P.S. - why is the font different in the middle? that's kind of odd....