I Feel Awesome!

I have closed the last three nights at work, whick means I haven't gotten to bed before one o clock in the morning. I don't do well with less than eight hours of sleep and even then closing takes a toll on my body after doing it so many days in a row. So last night, again, I got to sleep at about 1 or so and was up at about 8. I was so tired but decided that the only think that would help me was a trip to the gym. I downed a Slam and went to a spin class. I tell you, I felt like I could exercise for hours. It makes me feel so good mentally and physically. If you have a hard time making it to the gym after a late night, I recommend a Slam. Even if you got a great nights rest, it just gives you the energy you need to get through your work out at a great intensity! It does have caffeine in it, but also some very good vitamins that give you that mental boost!

That's Gonna Kill You

It seems that lately, someone is trying to tell me that some of the things I ingest into my body is gonna kill me. I don't get it, I work out, I (for the most part) eat healthy. But if someone sees me drinking a diet coke they want to tell me how bad the aspartame is for me. I know how bad the aspartame is for me, that is why I don't drink it every single day. The other day when someone had noticed that I have been tanning, told me how bad tanning was for me. I know that when you take these things out of control they can be bad for you. I find myself trying to defend these so called "bad decisions" all the time. Moderation people. I know the meaning of moderation. I don't drink diet coke every day, and I don't tan everyday. I just want to enjoy a diet coke here and there and I love the feeling of tanning, especially in the winter but only do it three times a week max. I think sometimes some people just want to put their two cents in...

Weight Frustrations

Ok, so I know this post could come out totally wrong but will try and get my frustrations out without sounding hung up on myself. When I started this health kick I was about 123 pounds (I know that is not fat but was very soft). I am know between 109 and 111. I have worked very hard to get to this point and must say I am very proud of myself. So when someone asks me "How do you stay (or how did you get) so skinny?" they look at me for some magic answer. Like they want me to tell them about some secret pill. The only secret is that I work out and eat healthy. Isn't that what we are supposed to do? I don't know why people even ask when they know the answer, they just want to believe that there has to be some other way to do it. It is not hard, it just takes lots and lots of discipline. I feel as though all the work I have put into this is discounted and doesn't really count because of the way I did it. Maybe I should just start changing my answer to this question....

Black Friday

I have had a week off of work and am now getting geared up for the infamous Black Friday. I only work three days before the big day. I don't really understand the lure of getting up before the sun, but lots of people do it. The deals are really good (at JC.Penney anyway) and worth coming in before one to get the deals, but I have to work at 4am. Granted I did choose the early shift, but still starting at 4am I am getting off at 3pm. Yikes! As much as I will hate getting up so early, I must admit that the atmosphere of Black Friday early in the morning is an exciting one. The music is soley Christmas music and most people are there because they want to be and are surprisingly in good moods. So think of me when you wake up on the 27th because I will have most likely been at work for a few hours! Hope to see all you Black Friday shoppers there, and if you do show up stop by and say hello...

Fitness

So, since the beginning of July I have been on a fitness mission. At the beginning of July I was 122 lbs and 23% body fat. Now, I know that isn't bad and was on the healthy side of the spectrum, but I was on a mission to "tone" up. Here is a picture of me from May:

Now I will repeat, I know I wasn't "fat" but I wasn't happy either, very "soft". I always wanted to get into shape, I even joined a gym. I just didn't know what to eat to tone up. So, I consulted with a friend of mine from high school who helps people with diets. It was really easy, she very slowly started introducing new parts of the diet. I am very happy to say that it is now a habit, not just a "diet". I am now 109 lbs and 15% body fat. My goal is to be 12-13% body fat, I don't really care about the weight! Anyway, here is a picture taken of me I think in August. I have lost more weight since then, but I think you can totally tell a difference:

Sad News

I know, I haven't updated in forever and it has to be with sad news. I just found out last night that one of my good friends daughters passed away. She has had medical problems for awhile now and she had a kidney disease that they hadn't been able to diagnose yet. The kidney disease let to swelling and a blot clot in the heart. She would have been three next month. If you pray, please send out some prayers for this family!!

Mothers Day

For Mother's Day we went to Mt. St. Helens. It was such a beautiful day, the kids had a great time!! Kellen had so much fun learning about the volcano!!! He has been talking about it ever since. It was such a nice way to spend my Mother's Day!!