Thursday, December 23, 2010

Easily excitable.

This is a good week.

I started p90x. It makes me feel amazing.

My best friend who lives in Maryland (yeah, that's a whole 3,000+ miles away from me!) is home for Christmas for the next two weeks. We're being reunited tonight. I haven't seen her since LAST Christmas, and I am so f'n stoked she's here!

Yesterday, JILLIAN MICHAELS TWEETED ME. I shouldn't be as excited about that as I am, but, um, HELLO?! Its my woman!

Someone at work had pre-ordered her new book, and without even asking me, put my name on the wait list. I had tweeted something along the lines of, "HAHA, my co-workers know me too well; someone pre-ordered @jillianmichaels new book and automatically put me on the waitlist! :)"

I didn't think anything of it. I'm sure hundred of my tweets have mentioned Jill before. But, I few hours later my phone notified me that someone had replied to me on Twitter. I check to see who/what it was and I'm pretty sure my eyes got a little wide when I saw THIS!



Now, usually she only replies to people when they ask a question. Maybe she just thought she'd inform me I'd be waiting a long ass time for the book, hahaha. (Which, I am aware of, because she's apparently doing a book signing in Los Angeles when it comes out and I had already decided I was going!)

Ugh. I love her. She made my day. As geeky as that sounds. :p

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

This has currently been kicking my ass:



Or, to be precise, should I say its been currently kicking my ABS?

I first became acquainted with this workout on the Jillian Michaels Ultimate Wellness Cruise. I took this class with Maddie Karlsson (who is also in the DVD!) onboard, which was an experience in itself. One: I had never done any sort of group classes before the cruise and Two: I apparently have really great form during some moves, and extremely poor form during others! But, I gladly accepted Maddie coming and moving my arm, leg, feet, whatever! was wrongly placed during the workout, rather then stumble and hurt myself doing something incorrectly.

Anyway, back to the review! I pre-ordered the DVD well before it was released, and then stalked the shit out of UPS' website once I received the email that it had shipped. Finally, a half-week later, I found it in my mailbox, which improved my mood on a rainy Saturday.

I haven't been able to sit down without making a noise since that Saturday. My abs BURN. They are sore. My entire core hurts.

I. LOVE. IT.

Now, am I really expecting to walk away with a six-pack after 6 weeks? Of course not. Am I hoping it gives me a little definition, and by little, I don't care how little it is, as long as I see SOMETHING? Yes.

Jillian has me doing some ab exercises I never knew existed. And, may I just state how much I loathe burpees?! Ugh. Loathe. It starts with a warm-up, and has intervals of different ab moves for 15 or so minutes, and then you repeat them all over again from the top, with more intensity. Which, by that point, my breathing sounds like I'm a fat kid with asthma trying to run around the block after a stray dog. Truth. I'm breathing, and grunting, and sweating all over the place! Surprisngly, I haven't cursed at Jillian yet though... With the cooldown, and stretch, it lasts about 35 minutes total.


Overall, I'm pretty pleases and am in L-O-V-E with this DVD. Jillian is looking smokin' hot in it, as well, might I add! ;)

Now. Lets see if I can survive Level One for the next few weeks, and see how much I still enjoy it after Level Two. I'll admit it: I'm scared.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Run Forrest Run 5k Experience!



the training.

the anticipation.

the excitement.

the nerves.

I'm pretty sure i experienced all of these thoughts and emotions running through my head in the hour leading up to the race on that Saturday. did i train long enough? this wait is KILLING me! oh my gosh, there's so many runners around me, i love this feeling. uh...am i going to trip and fall or pass out?

i started my running adventure at the end of august/beginning of September, using the Couch to 5k program. the first week was HARD. i could barely run a full MINUTE, let alone 3 miles! and now, here it was a mere 13 weeks later, running a 5k.

and ok, ok. i know 3 miles isn't far. but for me, it is a milestone.

i initially was going to run with my friend Babs, but she hurt her knee a few weeks ago and hasn't ran since, fearing she'd make it worse. for awhile i thought about not doing the 5k. after getting off the jillian cruise, i have been super motivated and working out regularly (and loosing 7 pounds in the process. WHAT?! where'd the fat fall off from? haha...) so the Friday before the race i went down to the convention center where the health and fitness expo was being held and signed up for late registration.

5 minutes, $30, a shirt & bib later...I WAS REGISTERED. I went and walked the course to become familiar with it, grinned ear to ear, and then went home and did a happy dance. (literally. i danced around my studio.)

Saturday i woke up quite early. I stretched, ate a banana & some peanut butter, drank some powerade. I wanted to make sure i was set to go! Headed down around 8am, and watched the end of the kids’ 3k. Dude, those kids run FAST!

Finally, they corralled us 5k-ers into the street, and with a countdown of “10, 9, 8...RUN FORREST RUN!” we were off!

Stupidly, I did not check to see if my laces were tied tightly, so before I even hit the 1 mile mark I had to stop to tie my left shoe. Seriously?! I picked up my speed to catch up on some lost time, and ran my way through the next mile or so where...MY DAMN RIGHT SHOELACE CAME UNDONE. UGGHHH!

I made it through the 3 miles though, and when I turned the corner and saw the finish line i couldn't believe it was over.

31:05 was my time. I’m happy with it. It could use much improvement, but hey! Its my first and the only goal i had was to finish, and that i did!

Afterwards, I met the wonderful Cindy Lou! We were both on the Jillian Cruise, but hadn’t met in person. She found me on Facebook, and I spotted her afterwards and we chatted and gushed for a half hour. We have a lot in common and I’m glad we met! HI CL!! :D

So now I am hooked and want to do more. I actually made a goal to run the HALF marathon next November. it sounds crazy, but I think I could do it.


Friday, November 12, 2010

Less than 24 hours from now...

Its here, its here, its here!

My first 5k (aka first race EVER) is tomorrow! Wish me luck!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010


She's basically become my greatest inspiration in the world, right now. More cruise photos soon! :D

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Letting go. Thank you, Jillian Michaels.

its 9am, on saturday morning, october 23, 2010. i'm laying on my back, palms up towards the sky, on the lido deck onboard the norweign star. we are docked in nassau, bahamas. jillian michaels has just worked us out to what feels like near death. i am bawling my eyes out.

i hadn't realized until that moment that i was holding in such suppressed negative emotions for years. when i was younger, i was overweight. i was always the fattest kid in class. i came in last place in everything. i got picked last for sports. i was the butt of everyone's jokes. i got teased relentlessly. i kept this mostly to myself.

i was extremely shy as a child, and i think this may have been the fact that i had no self confidence in myself. if hardly anyone liked me, why should i like myself?

as i got older, and wiser, i figured it was time to take charge and change this. one summer in high school i went on weight watchers and came back the following year with a hell of a better attitude about life. i felt so much healthier, and proud, and that was the beginning of a new and better me.

even though i looked and felt different, deep down i was still holding onto those emotions, whether i realized it or not.

laying on the lido deck, taking deep breaths.

jillian is talking. "be proud of yourself. this is your moment. we have 10,000 thoughts run through our heads everyday, and 80% of them is the same bullshit over and over again. you are safe in this moment. you are here with friends and family. this is your time. let go of all the negativity. if someone has an issue with you, that's THEIR shit, their problem, not yours. for all the times someone has told you you can't, know that you CAN."

in this moment, with the tropic sun hitting my face, sweat dripping on every inch of my body, i let it go. with each tear that streamed down my face, i let go of every negative thought i ever had about myself. with every breath i took, i got stronger, and breathed in positive energy. i made a promise to myself that i would never think badly of myself again. if i ever thought poorly of myself, i will think of all the great things i HAVE done, CAN do, and WILL do with my life. and hey, jillian said it best, "just think, if i got through that crazy bitch's workout, i can do ANYTHING."

i can't even explain what these 4 days onboard did to me. i came home the most sore i've ever experience (and let me tell you, it was painful) but as my muscles healed, so did my soul.

thank you, jillian. THANK YOU. i know that this was all inside me, but you just helped the sun break through from the clouds that has been hiding behind all this time.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Run Forrest Run.

I'm currently in the middle of training for my ver first 5k.

Holy crap. Did I really just type that sentence?

I am beyond proud of myself.

November 13. I'm coming for you, baby.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Is it October, yet?

GUESS WHERE I'M GOING IN OCTOBER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Five words:
JILLIAN. MICHAELS. ULTIMATE. WELLNESS. CRUISE.


That's right, bloggity blog world. My girl crush. My fitness role model. My weight loss inspiration. AND I get to take a photo with her onboard. Oh, and did I mention that I also get to go to Great Stirrup Cay & Nassau, in The Bahamas? SCORE.

*squeeeel*

Oh, and yes. I am aware this will be my third cruise in 2010. Ha. Ooops?

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Sunday, March 21, 2010

"Cheat Days"

Cheat Days.

What do we think of them?

I personally, think that a cheat day every so often is good to a dieters health. I know how it can be to want something so bad, but telling yourself you CAN'T have it makes the want worse. It becomes more of a "need" and that can end in over-indulgence and binge eating.

I'm proud to say that my last cheat day was over 2 and a half months ago. Yeah. I've been on track for THAT long. It amazed me, too.

Well. Until last night, that is...

Yesterday I held my housewarming party. It was a joint party with my neighbor/landlady/co-worker. We are both on a weight loss adventure (myself loosing around 18 pounds, her 45) so we made pretty healthy food (I made a veggie tray, a fruit salad & fat free brownies) But like at most parties, guests will bring something along with them as well.

We had a "spanish" theme, so there was a lot of sangria, and porron drinking happening. I have learned that I become an endless PIT when I consume alcohol.

I don't remember everything I ate. I know it was a lot. I DEFINITELY don't want to know the calorie intake of yesterday, haha! I know I went to bed drunk, and happy, and very, very full.

But am I kicking myself this morning? Nope. Maybe a little, because I have a massive hangover and wish I didn't drink as much sangria as I did, but I am still happy. Today is a new day to start over. And I know one night of splurging isn't going to make me gain 15 pounds back overnight.

All in all, I think I ate enough food yesterday to keep any "cheating" at bay for awhile. I may never want to see mixed nuts again, though...oye.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Well, hello.

On Tuesday, October 13, 2009, I made a decision that changed the rest of my life. I started a Beachbody & Debbie Siebers workout, called Slim in 6.

I wasn't overweight to begin with. I didn't need to "lose" any pounds. I just wanted to get in shape, to tone up a bit, to look good for a cruise I was going on in January.

It is now March 2010. The past 5 months have changed the way I look at food, and exercise. It is a choice to shove either a veggie burger or a Big Mac into your mouth; a protein bar or a Snickers bar. Whether or not to do your body a favor and exercise, or sit on the couch and just WATCH others sweat it out.

Since October, I have lost 15 pounds. I have gone from a size 9/11, to a 5/7. I have changed in ways that I didn't even think was possible. I've become a completely new person.

Starting this Sunday, I will begin a new chapter in my adventure - Tony Horton's p90. I'm quite excited. I did it for about a month back in December before going falling back into SI6, because I felt like I need to be more "slim" before I started bulking up. I'm ready for the bulking! Gimmie some guns!

Bring It.