Excuses

I'll tell you the end at the beginning: I got myself a banana and powered through it (I don't even like bananas). I reached for the Welch's fruit snacks first and thought better of it. I see growth and progress in that as I am making healthier, lower calorie, more efficient food choices. I had a lot of reasons NOT to work out today and only one to do it: I told myself I would. I honored myself by following through on a commitment I made to me. I work in service of everyone else. I'm at a point of burnout. Not a career-ending burnout b/c it's nothing my upcoming vacation won't fix but a burnout nonetheless. I needed this. The endorphins, the one step closer to my goals, the release. I gave myself a gift for which there is no excuse.

Fuel

I lost approximately 1.5 lbs of those extra 3 I picked up. I have been keeping a food diary for the last couple of days. This time, it's a handwritten one rather than using My Fitness Planner. Something about the old-fashioned way has me more accountable. Plus, I found a use for that moleskin journal since I haven't been writing poetry much. I struggled through another installment of level 2 of Shred and all I could think about was a green smoothie. Here's what I threw together (no measuring):

spinach
banana
nut and honey granola
water
mixed berry activia yogurt

No bad. Next time, I'll add ice. It's a little warm. Throwing this tasty concoction in the 'fridge while I go shower. Today, I learned to use what you have and try things out. I dont have all the stuff in the recipes I came across online but this tastes something close to the Bolthouse joint I buy sometimes anyhow.

Set Backs

I stepped on the scale and was greeted by 3 additional pounds. Haven't lost an ounce but I GAINED 3 lbs. I missed too many workouts, made poor eating choices, and haven't had enough water. I want to blame some of this on monthly weight gain but that is likely not the case. So I am now 13 lbs over original weight and that was supposed to be a starting weight so 23 lbs from goal weight. WAAAAAAA *sips lemon water*

Tough Decisions

I'm all about integrity. I don't feel just in just starting level 3 on the 10 day mark. For one thing, level 2 is kicking my butt too bad and I wanna honor myself by allowing myself time. The other reason is I had two unplanned non-workout days. Those are in addition to the unforseen one I am having this weekend. Technically, there are two this weekend as Idk how much of a workout paintball is and I won't be doing Jillian Michaels. All factors considered, I have decided to extend my challenge 4 days. Barring any further interruptions in the plan, this will put me with an end date exactly one month from SXM. I can live with that.

FAIL

Not a complete fail but some fail is going on. Couldn't get my workout this morning b/c of an unforseen emergency that wasnt even an emergency so much as it was fucking inconvenient. Anyway, this is the night I work til 8 and having had to get ready and out of the house early to rush to get to work for a long, hard day, a workout simply wasn't in the cards. Would you look at that run-on sentence? I'm tired and irritable. Good night.

Level 2: Day 1

I allowed myself to progress to the second level despite not having fully mastered all of level 1 moves. I attempted every move and completed few of them. Level 2 is significantly more difficult for me. The super brief cool down is a waste of time still. There is plenty of planking in this round which was never done in the first level. I think if there had been at least 1 plank move, I would have been better prepared. I have about 6 more times to get it right. I am making the decision to remain on the calendar schedule so whether or not I master level 2, it's on to level 3 on the 21st. The road to SXM will not be completely paved with this one DVD. I plan to mix it the hell up b/c I quickly get bored with the same approaches. I need to make dietary lifestyle changes, use other DVDs I have purchased, and I have Pinterest pins of exercise routines to throw in on weekends.

Planning Ahead

My niece's bday is this week. To celebrate, she wants to play paintball Saturday. She lives far out and then the paintball spot is further. I'll be spending the weekend there resulting in losing two workout days. Friday is already a scheduled rest day so no problems there. Saturday is the day of paintball and I'm gonna count that as a workout since I assume I'll be running around. Sunday is St. Patty's Day where I was already scheduled to do a little drinking and then I have a date with my man. Theoretically, I'm losing one workout day. I could live with that. I plan to watch my portions this week and definitely take it easy on drinking for safety and responsibility above anything else.

Berry Breakfast Smoothie

Simply blend raspberries, strawberries, and organic soy milk with some ice. Next time: add whey and soy protein powder. I really intended to do that this time but my brain isn't fully awake despite completing level 1 of the 30-day Shred. So far, no weight change but I feel my body adapting to working out again. I can also attribute no weight change to little variation in eating habits. Additionally, I am at most burning 250 calories per workout, per internet search results so there's that.

7 Whole Days

One week of being conscious of my consumption and activity levels. I noticed that while I am still on the first level of the workout series, it feels harder the more I do it. I added heavier weights yesterday but seemed to struggle more today. My friend says thats good. I hope she is right.

The Morning After

Resuming working out after a day of rest is like starting over for me. It is especially so because I picked up some 3 lb weights from Target yesterday to use instead of whatever my sister-in-law had down there. I believe each of her weights were 1.5 lbs. I still count this as day 6 of 30 and it is complete *sips lemon water*.

Update: Day of Rest

As i prepare my water for green tea and boil my egg (no toast this AM. cinnamon apple instant oatmeal instead), I am back to share that I decided to allow a day of rest every 5th day of this 30 day journey. It will not be a day of complete inertia; for instance, I did some slight ab work this morning before venturing to the kitchen. On the 5's, I will work a muscle group that isn't sore and/or possibly isn't being worked to my satisfaction.

The airport code for St. Maarten is SXM so henceforth, it shall be referred to as such. SXM, we on the way!

Day of Rest

My friend and fitness inspiration told me I need two rest days. I did not factor this into my plan. I complained to my boyfriend of leg soreness and he is requesting I work a different muscle group. That means skipping my DVD for the day. I think I can live with skipping my DVD and giving my legs a rest but I can't tolerate a full rest day. Not this early in the game. I'm too likely to stop and not start again. Time to investigate what I might do tomorrow.

Day 4 Post-Workout Eating

Breakfast today is:

• lemon water
• green tea (plain)
• cinnamon raisin toast
• boiled egg

I believe it is my night to cook dinner so let me get into some meal planning. There are plenty of leftovers from from the last couple of nights, maybe we can survive off of that :)

Support

I support and promote my friends. I support and promote folks who aren't actually my friends. If you are doing something positive and uplifting, you have my support. I try to do so financially but now, more than ever, I am in no position. I don't expect anything in return; just paying forward the blessings bestowed upon me. In support of my friend from undergrad, I direct you to her fitness blog: A Living Revolutionary

This Tumblr is full of motivational memes, eating tips, exercise routines, and just plain good advice. Check it out.

Road to St. Maarten

Hello! Is anyone still out there following this blog??? I said "goodbye" in 2011 but I guess I didn't mean it. I'm back with no promises about how long or how often but I am here. Allow me to address the title of this post. My friend whom I have known since 9th grade is celebrating her 27th birthday. Sidenote: have you been keeping up with my foolishness here and on twitter since I was like 21? I'm turning 27 this year. You are a trooper. Congratulate yourself! Ok, now back to the post. I have seen chronicles of my girl's adventures via facebook and twitter. This time, I was invited along to participate, which fits with a major portion of my vision board. She's an international jetsetting beast and I am a novice traveler so I trust her to be my guide in this goal. The destination: St Maarten.

The cost of the trip has been paid: my flight is booked, my stay is paid-in-full, and my CC balance is $0. While my financial accounts are settled, I haven't paid physically. I am in no way beach-ready. Sure, I can find a swimsuit to fit me but I want photographic evidence of a bikini-laden body before I hit 30. So where am I with the process? I'll share:

I am on day 3 of Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred. Shred is a 20-minute interval workout plus warm-up and cool down. The DVD is broken down into 3 levels so I intend on doing each level for 10 days. The workout is over quickly and she promises weight loss of up to 20 lbs in the 30-day period. This is perfect for me because my goal was just 10 lbs but I have been diet reckless and must now lose 20 lbs before this trip.

So far, my arms hate me, however she has me doing ab work. It's not much but it's more than zero for a person who skips that segment on every DVD/workout plan. I am the same girl who totally skipped out on abs day and yoga day in P90X and just gave myself days off.

I am inviting you to read along as I journal my progress in preparation to depart for the island in two-months time. Maybe I'll share some other stuff going on with me, also, too, as well.