Working through the June Challenge

Happy Tuesday!!  Hope all is well with you all in blogger land.  I was going to post earlier today, but I decided to do it after my 2nd cardio workout of the day.  I feel I can hold myself more accountable if I post later.  

Well, my 2nd cardio workout of the day is done.  With my 45 minutes on the treadmill this morning and the 45 on the elliptical tonight, I burned a combined 525 calories. (I love my Polar FT4.)  I feel good and look forward to tomorrow's workouts.  My plan is to hit the weights then get in some inclining on the treadmill for 5o.  I'm actually excited.  Yay me!!

Since I haven't been blogging, I haven't been doing the Friend Making Monday's.  I thought I would do one that was posted last week or something like that.  LOL  Enjoy and join in.

And the summer cometh....June Goals

I haven't blogged in a while and seriously, my weight has been doing the cha-cha all over the place since I took an unexpected blogging break.  So, since I'm learning that accountability makes me do better, I'm back on this grind...  Listen, if you've never had a weight struggle, you just don't understand.  We take one day at a time.

Well, I have to give myself some goals for June.  They may be major to some, but I'm so damn competitive with myself that I will try to accomplish them.  I want to feel better and not the chubby girl that I feel right now...LOL

June Goals:

1. Gym 2 times a day at least 3 times a week.
2. Walk/Run 3 miles 3 times a week.
3. Shake bread/wheat for the month. (My tummy doesn't like it, but I still ingest it and suffer the consequences later.)
4. Try a couple of new classes.
5. Hit the pool twice a week.

Okay...this is a lot, but I need to get the gym in....and keep myself focused.

How's you're summer going??

the calm before the neurotic storm...

*wave*  Today...was so crazy in so many different ways.  One, I woke up with the worst pain in my leg. *sigh*  I have been waiting for the storm after the calm all week.  Monday, in between spinning, rehearsals and Bikram...I ran to take a shower and slipped in the tub.  I fell back first and my calf muscle banged into the side of the tub.  I was okay Monday, Tuesday and yesterday during Bikram on the  second to last sit up I felt my leg saying..."no more."  Grrr.

About 2 this morning, I couldn't sleep on my left side.  *sigh*  It didn't get better until about 6 and I slept like a rock until 8.  The plan was to go to a 10AM Bikram class and sweat out before weigh in.  Didn't happen.  My leg said..."Boo try it and you will be in a mess."  LOL  I stayed at home and moped.  Moped, Facebooked and watched Bones on Netflix.  Gaah!!

Weigh in...Grr....  I've been trying to do a low meat diet and eating more legumes and tons of veggies.  I gained 4 pounds this week.  Boo! Just Boo!! Needless to say, I wanted to cry.  I've been double dutyin' in the gym...working really hard and doing right.  Then this mess...Gaah!!!  Thass okay, I'm pressing on.

Bikram...  Yesterday, I took my second class and I think I fell in great like with it. Not love yet.  I sweated from beginning to end.  It was hot as all HADES, but when it was done, i felt good.  Really good.  Also, I brought some coconut water and GUZZLED it after class.  I didn't have that strange eye twitch and...did I say how GREAT i felt when it was over?  LOL

Okay...well, it is time for me to put up tomorrow's dinner...curried lentils (yea, i'll learn) and watching me another episode of Bones.  LOL

...............peace and blessings...................

Quiet and Madness...wrapped up in ONE!

Tiffany over me singing!  LOL

A four day hiatus from the blog was SO not the plan.  Ooops.  Man...things have been whirlwindy.  LOL  My mom is out of town and I'm house sitting.  Lemme tell you, running 2 households and 2 sets of pets is no joke...on top of my crazy schedule.

I can say, house sitting for the mom has been a treat.  One, because my mom is surrounded by musicians, I can practice anytime of the day and as long as I want....and I get to doggy sit her ornery and funny dog Tiffany.  Tiffany is a 12 year old Shorkie (Shitzu and Yorkie).  She's old, but feisty and funny.  She keeps me and the mom's cat Socks on our toes.  LOL  Plus, nothing is funnier than me trying to do my CheLean exercises that cause me to be on the floor.  I was doing some chest presses and she came over with her brown eyes and long eyelashes to give me that...what in the HAYLE are you doing look.  Then she laid down and made it difficult to do them.  Bwaahaha.  Oh pets.

In other news...I can't remember if I said I lost those 2 pounds I gained last week.  LOL  There's so much going on I can't remember. Gaaah!!  I feel good and like disciplined.  It is really strange.  Everyday I see myself more focused, more stronger, more determined.  It is a nice feeling.  Makes me happy.  Even if the scale isn't moving, I see myself thinning out.  Like I put some pants on yesterday and this ugly override thing I had on my thighs...gone.  It makes me happy...and even more focused.

Well, I'm getting the side eye from the mom's funny dog.  Yea...she needs a walk.  I hope you all have a great day!!

...........peace and blessings.........................

*singing* What a day this has been.....

Ha....  I'm actually quite amazed that I'm able to type at this moment.  It has been QUITE a day.

Since the mom is out of town, I'm her house sitter...and her car sitter...and her dog sitter...and her cat sitter...gardener... LOL  You get it.  Since I'm the car sitter, I had to do alternate side parking with her car.  I found a space for my car last night. *sigh*

So, this is how my Tuesday flowed....I hit the gym by 8:15 and did 37 minutes on the elliptical.  For some reason, it was difficult and I sweated like I was doing this crap in a sauna.  When I left the gym, I ran by my house to check on my cat.  Talk abut an evil broad cause I didn't spend the night at home.  Then I ran back to the mom's...parked...walked the dog and then ran and met my boy at the gym for round 2.  Yea...45 minutes on the treadmill with a wicked incline. (Go me....)

As I was walking home, I kept contemplating a nap, then I realized...nap wasn't an option.  I got my lunch done...and in my body...then I got ready to hit the road again.

I had to be at church at 3 for the funeral of Harlem's Sylvia's.  Sylvia's name is as famous as Harlem.  And she really had a funeral fit for a queen.  It started at 4 and ended at 7:45PM.  Serious I say...plus, I was in arms reach of former President Bill Clinton.  *swoon*  LOL  It was quite a powerful service.  It is something when everyone says the same thing about you...you were humble, you encouraged everyone, made everyone feel loved and respected....and on and on.  That's speaks so highly of Sylvia's character....how many people can we say that about??

Then I walked home...seriously...when I hit the kitchen this evening...I wanted to pass.out.  PASS.OUT.  But...I hadn't had dinner.  I grabbed that, walked the dog for the night and now I'm in the mom's bed feeling like Nina from Love Jones.  ROFL....

I'm exhausted, but rather impressed.  Usually when I have a day like this, I take a nap.  I made it without a nap...WITHOUT and my brain didn't die.  LOL  I just apologized to the dog in advance cause I know I'm gonna snore.

Okay...I'm done.

.............peace and blessings......

Ugh...and LOVE!

off to spinning for the 1st time in a minute

Ugh is for modems breaking down.  Gaaah...grrr...pish-posh.  This past Wednesday i knew my modem had bit the dust, but i couldn't convince myself that it is real.  Sometimes i wonder about my sanity. *shrug*  I finally exchanged it yesterday and lemme say...TWC was a mess.  ROFL...a mess.  Needless to say I waited, cause I'm typing this.


So on to the loves....

1. I've survived 2 days of Couch to 5K.  Last Thursday was my first day.  I've been using the Skimble app....which is amazing when i'm in the gym.  Yesterday was harder than the first day, but i heard that was the case.  IT DOESN'T matter...i'm pressing on with this running business.  i feel so...amazed and proud of myself.
2. ChaLean Extreme...okay...love, love.  The 40 minutes don't seem like hell.  As much as i loved the woman who was my trainer, i don't feel bored or crazed with it. Looking forward to LEAN muscles in 90 days.
3. Spinning...  This past Friday the plan was to go to Zumba.  I woke up late and said..."self...you are going to do something different."  Self went to spinning.  The first 15 minutes i wanted to quit.  Then i remembered...i had to.  JUST HAD TO!  i took my eyes off of the clock and pressed on.  The next thing I knew she said this was the last hill climb and we would be cooling down in a minute. Go.me.
4. Food wise...i'm killing.  i know i'm killing.  LOL  my body knows i'm killing and i never feel like i've missed out on a meal.  Nothing like eating healthy and feeling good.
5. Weigh in wise...i'm down 13 lbs via Weight Watchers scale.  The other day i woke up and i was down 15.  LOL  I'll go with my scale...it inspires me to keep pressing on.  ROFL

Okay...off to watch the rest of Extreme Makeover: Weight loss Edition.  Looking forward to a healthy week and tons of practicing...

.....peace and blessings....

Monday a day or 2 late....

Guess what...I got my Cha.Lean Extreme yesterday.  I'm so excited that I want to do the cha-cha.  LOL  When I get in from doing the elliptical this morning, I'm going to hit it up and see what the deal is.  I'm very excited because I just want to be lean...I'm looking forward to see what will happen in 30 days.  It is a 90 days program, but at this point, I'm learning how to grasp small successes.  YaY!!!

Antywho...I see this Friend Making Monday all over the place, especially on one of the blogs that I stalk...lol....All The Weigh.

I'm learning

Yesterday was really a rough day mentally and emotionally.  I can't remember if I stated that my friend's husband died yesterday morning.  He was about 36/37...had pneumonia.  They just had a baby in January.  It just really got me.  My friend has been through so much.  She lost her mother recently to ALS, her dad 2 or 3 years ago to cancer,  her grandmother's recently....yea a lot.  When I read that the hubby passed....it was like someone had kicked me in the stomach.  I just wanted to eat all day long.  I never made the gym.  I spent the day practicing and trying to wrap my mind about how my friend was handling all of this.


By 10 after being filled with music and a few episodes of Mad Men, I remembered I had chocolate in the house.  *bad news*  I ate about 8 small pieces of a Mil.ka Strawberry Bar that I love.  *sigh*  Oh well, when I hit the scale this morning....yea, i hit it daily to keep me in check...it said I was down 2 more pounds.  *whew*


I keep pressing on.


So....what am i learning?  i'm learning the importance of making time to be prepared.  does that make sense?  well today i went to bj's and stocked up.  i got some collard greens, even though i wanted kale, some salad fixings, black bean burgers, sweet potato fries (my personal crack) and some chicken breasts.  if it is here...i have NO excuses.  i feel focused and ready.  right now as i type...i'm cooking my collards so they will be ready for tomorrow.  


yay me...i'm learning....i really am.


a little quote from my zumba teacher before i go..."to accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe" Anatole France  


i'm believing....


peace and blessings.....

Being prepared

Last week I realized that one of the reasons for my weight gain was 1. I barely cooked one meal and 2. I didn't track/plan ahead.  I just spent the last quarter of the He.at OKC game prepping for tomorrow.

In my mom's neighborhood, which is about 5 blocks east of me, they have a fabulous farmer's market on Saturday and I took advantage.  I got some bok choy, broccoli rabe, red lettuce and a couple of other things.  I really love vegetables.  I think they are the best things ever.  Fruit...gaaah.  I'm working on my fruit habit, but veggies are my love.  LOL

I'm so looking forward to eating lunch tomorrow. Yes, that's the plight of being a chubby girl.  I love food.  I look forward to eating all the time.  Oh well, I'm working on that as well.  

Antywho...I will say I'm also looking forward to hitting up the gym tomorrow.  My plan was to go today, but you know the saying..."You plan and God laughs."  *shrug*  No matter my lack of exercise, I ate well and within my points...so no complaints here.

Off to bed...gym in the morning and tackling some Bellini and Rossini.  Ahhh....

peace and blessings.....

A little more determined...

That's the quote my mom said to me today after she said how proud she was of me and my gym hustle.  Lemme tell you this new groove is not easy, but I'm feeling better and more determined.

I can't tell you how many times I've tried to tackle this weight issue.  That has probably been the same cry with a lot of people, but this time I'm more determined.  More focused.  More on the ball.  Whatever it is...this extra chub is coming off. *stomping my foot*

Plus, I had perfect incentive today to keep going.  I went into a store and bought some crops a size smaller....without trying them on.  I was like that former number won't happen again.  I got home and thought, well maybe i should  try them on.  Every pair fit...without struggle to zip the zipper or button the button.  YaY me.

And the struggle continues another day.

...peace and blessings....

I don't like this girl...

Ha...I'm not talking about myself, but the dreadful girl named PMS.  She has me by the proverbial BALLS.  Grrr...gaaah!!!


My energy is in bed under the covers.  Ooof. There will be no gymming tonight after my rehearsal. *sigh*  This girl, Ms. PMS, is working me.  She is even making me want things that are so not good for myself and what I'm trying to accomplish.  I'm proud of myself for not falling in the trap.  I just can't. 


Plus, I put on some crops tonight and I didn't see the obnoxious stomach hang that used to make me want to cry.  I stopped wearing pants last summer because I just couldn't stand to see where my body was.  Don't get me wrong, dresses are my thing....but every now and then I would love to wear some pants and not worry about how I look.


So today I did my 55 minutes of cardio on the treadmill.  No incline, but at 3.5 speed...which amazes me.  I touched on that yesterday i think.  I remember when 2.8 would just have me at my max. YaY me!!!


Alright....off to rehearsal....


peace and blessings



Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.Victor Kiam

Whaaat is happening here???

I just back in from the gym.  YaY me!!  My plan was to go, run home and change...then head to church for 11 AM service.  Didn't happen....oh.well.  I got up and piddled.  If you know southerners piddlin' is not an uncommon word.  For those who don't know...I just started turning in circles.  I ate breakfast at 7:45 and the next thing I knew it was 9:30.  LOL


Ooops.  


Antywho...I went in focused, turned on some gospel music and treadmilled.  Each day I go into the gym, I surprise myself.  I'm surprised 1. how focused I am and 2. how I won't let my brain get in my own way.  I remember a time when I would be easily distracted and would let my brain say...no, you can't do that.  Today it really hit me.  When I was in the last 3 minutes of my 45 minutes, I realized that I had been trucking on a 5.5 incline at a speed of 4.1.  Someone would say that's not serious.  It is for me.  Six months ago doing a speed of 2.5 was major...so 4.1, I accept...and it's closer to me getting on this running game.


Well, I'm off to get ready for this day and concert.  I have to run out and buy a white top to sing in.  I don't know who thinks up all white clothes...I hate them.  I think it is beautiful on others, but on me...no danke.  Maybe when I've lost my 40lbs. I'll like them...whatev. 


Remember.....Attitude is an inward thought that wiggles its way out! - Joyce Meyer


peace and blessings.....

Back on the grind...

Hey...*waving*  I can't remember when I last wrote...right now, i don't care.  Just know...I'm back.


Last week after some mental back and forth, I decided that's it.  Seriously.  That's it.  This weight has GOT to go.  It would be helpful career wise and clothing wise...since I LOVE vintage fashion, but honestly, I want it gone for health reasons.  The excess baggage gotta go.  My major goal is to have 40 lbs. gone by March 2013.


So, last Thursday, I walked back into Weight.Watchers and dragged my mom with me. (She has weight to lose. The doctor told her to get on the grind as well.)  Besides my mom, my 2 dear gay friends are the only ones who know...well, and whomever reads this blog. 


How did my first week back go?  Actually it went well.  When you refocus and approach things with a different mindset, you don't see the negative.  You see the final outcome.  I know you're wondering how I did my first week... I lost 9.2lbs.  Seriously.  I was like gagging.  LOL  Did I share at the end of the meeting during celebrations?  No.


Why didn't I share?  I'm at the place now...see my product.  I'm not talking about it much, just see my hard work.  What did I do differently than any other time?  I tracked.  Every day.  I tracked.  I cooked and tracked.  Tracked and I cooked.  LOL  I didn't cook that differently...just my portion sizes.  I had tootsie rolls, cookies, cakes, fried chicken and all the rest of crap i like.  No matter what, I tracked.


On top of tracking...I exercised.  And starting this past Monday, I've been doing a 2 day grind.  I'm calling them Round 1 and Round 2.  Round 1...it is whatever I want to do...like elliptical, yoga, zumba, kickboxing, riding my bike on the green way, etc.  That's my round 1.  Round 2...well, that's my new thing...treadmill fluctuating incline, but my speed is increasing.  I want to run.  Bottom line...straight up.  That's the plan with round 2.


Well this is a mouthful and I plan to keep blogging.  Not going to say it will be daily, but it will be at least weekly.  I'm gonna leave you with this message from my WW leader today.

Peace and Blessings.....

Grinding, Grinding....

I'm back on my grind....again.  I've been back on it for 2 weeks.  I've done 6 days a week and grinding.  LOL

So my new challenge....I want to do a Couch to 5K training thingy.  LOL  I go to the gym daily with a friend and he has a trainer who makes him do daily challenges.  I mentioned the Couch to 5K and he's down.  He can barely run a mile and he wants to impress his trainer with it.

I on the other hand am desperate to run.  Plain and simple.  I have a major gig in 9 weeks and it would be amazing if my gown was too big.  I know makes no sense, but it is what it is.  Since I have 9 weeks to learn and memorize a ton of music...I'll get my body up for a run.  YaY me!

Monday...new grind, new challenge....continuing on Weight Watchers.

(BTW...I plan on updating regularly....seriously...)

Twenty one days..

Twenty one days with...no bread, no rice and not planned...no sodas or candy or cake.  LOL

Twenty one days and I SURVIVED.  It was actually quite fulfilling to go to foursquare, plug in that I was leaving yoga and it say...You have been at the gym 3 weeks straight. *dancing*  That is a good feeling. 

And now with my good feeling...I'm going to bed so I can be on the elliptical in the am.

Peace Out!!

OOooops...

It has been almost a week and it really was my plan to blog before now.  *shrug*

For starters, I'm tired.  I mean SERIOUSLY tired.  LOL  Up until yesterday, I've been doing the gym 7 days a week and twice a day.  Yesterday my body was like...*ahem*  If you want to function, you won't do that.  LOL  And I didn't.  I do listen sometimes.  LOL

So, tomorrow will be my last day of my 21 Day Challenge.  I realized, as I was sitting in church tonight, that not only have I given up bread and rice, but unconsciously I've given up soda and candy. *go me!!*  I don't know if I mentioned it, but my trigger foods are bread and rice.  I love them...can make meals off of them...etc. 

How has that worked out for me you ask?  I feel great.  Besides being tired, I am mentally better, more focused...and I realized that I have built my 21 day habit...which is actually what I wanted to do.  I've learned that I can sit at a table with my favorite type of foccacia at Carmine's, and I don't have to eat it. #winning  LOL

As of Monday, I create a new challenge.  What?  21 Days of riding my bike. *church pray*.  My bike has been in my store room fore almost 2 weeks...put together and me saying I'm going to ride it. *sigh*  So.......the plan is to at least 3 times a week ride and 2 times a week Zumba, yes...on my Round 2 of the gym.

Now...my hanging on a thread self is going to finish watching Necessary Roughness and think about the beautiful lunch I shall make tomorrow...bread free.  LOL

Peace Out!!!

Flakin' on a Thursday Midday....

Flakin' you say?  Yes.  At this moment I had scheduled time to practice.  From 3-5 I am to practice, yet I am here catching up on Y&R/AMC, blogging and closing the box to the Weight Watchers Community. LOL I am going to start at 4.  I need to be grinding on a couple of arias and memorizing one for an audition that I have in less than a week.  *sigh*

Well, I am behind on my practicing because I took a nap.  I've been desperate for those lately.  I mean DESPERATE.  Every day around 12:30/1:00 PM, my body goes into this weird shut down.  I can't even describe how exhausted I am.  Am I preggers?  No.  It is this crazy exercise demands that I have put on myself.

For the past week, I gave myself a mini challenge as a part of my 21 Day Challenge...I'm going to the gym twice a day.  I will admit, it is fun.  I mean really fun.  EGADS...did I just say that?  LOL  Yes, it is fun.  My morning is always a basic treadmill or elliptical thing going on.  I've actually upped that up from 45 to 50.  I've upped my speed on the treadmill from 3.5 to 4.2 and my resistance on the elliptical from 5 to 8.  Yea...serious.  If it wasn't for my Booty Shakin' Mix today...I would have been shoveled off of the elliptical at 20 minutes.  LOLOL

Anyway, my evening routine has been either Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, Kickboxing, or Aqua Aerobics.  I'm actually trying to add Yoga with something else.  Ha!  You say.  I'm always up for some wicked challenge, the part is completing it.  Monday, I did Aqua Aerobics and I will say I came home delirious.  Tuesday, Zumba...and I sweated so hard that my shirt was wet.  I mean like it had been in the rinse cycle.  Ha!!  Wednesday, I met up with a friend to see Band of Horses, but my extra exercise was running up stairs in the train station and in the theater. (I know a tad crazy.)  Tonight, my plan is to go to Hatha Yoga and Cardio Kickboxing.  (Hursh....)  We shall see how THAT one goes.

Okay it is now after 4 and I seriously have to at least warm up and do some technical work on the voice.  Maybe in the near future, I will take the time and post the picture that triggered my bootay into gear!!

Peace Out and have a great day!
(oh yea...I'll let you know how the yoga and kickboxing went later.)

So...it is what it is...

I went to weigh-in today.  I've lost 0.6.

So if you round it off that is closer to 1 pound.  LOL  I'll take it.  Oh yea, I'm doing Weight Watchers.  I'm not finding it a struggle.  I am actually finding it easier than I have the 4, 5, or wait...6 times I've tried it.  LOL  I'm even incorporating more fruit into my diet.  I can't begin to tell you how great I feel.  In total since July 15th, I've lost almost 10 lbs. (YaY me!!)

My mom said today...yes, she is doing it with me...that she was proud of me.  I've gone 14 days...no bread or rice and 45+ minutes of exercise a day.  I'll take my 0.6 loss.  It takes a lot of determination and constantly talking myself off of a "sugar/rice/bread" bridge. 

I press on knowing that I'm going in the right direction and even without scale numbers...I have lost back fat.  Hey...a woman can't win them all, but she will take what she can get!!

Peace out!!

Processing as I grow

40 Days To change/break a habit.

90 Days To confirm the habit.

120 Days The new habit is who you are.

1000 Days You have mastered the new habit.

I needed to see this...as I am working on changing habits and creating new habits. *sigh* Life is hard.