Making The Cut... Just the beginning

So I met Jillian Michaels...
... and I'm not sure I like her much!

Okay, I didn't really meet her, but I bought her book. She is super intense! What a crazy woman, however, I must be just as crazy for buying the book. I decided to take the challenge of Making the Cut: 30 days of intense workouts, crazy food, and no alcohol!

A few crazy facts: Being 5'7" and 157lbs I am only allowed 1490 calories a day! WHAT!? I could eat that for breakfast... Okay not really, but with as much as I working out that I do... REALLY??? I was hoping for at least 2000!!

Eating - wow this will be tough - I'll write what I eat everyday! Every 4 hours - that's pretty normal for me!
Working out - two-a-days are going to be tough. But the good news is that I have a 2 hour limit. Can't work out more than 2 hours at a time. (That's a good thing I think. Trying to find optimism, however probably wouldn't have made 2 hours any one gym time.)
Sleep - 8 hours every night. She doesn't know me very well does she!

Grocery Store - I hate that place, and I already have to go back, and I went last night. This could teach me to like the Grocery Store.

Measurements - those will be done today before my first workout! Yikes!
Photos - I took a "before", but won't post those until it's over. I'm embarrassed! :/

Today is Day one.
1. Did I sleep 8 hours? - no. I didn't even sleep well. Lame! I wish that I could sleep, but one week and still not sleeping. I'm hitting the bed by 10p tonight!
2. Water - I'm doing well with that since I am only allowed 1490 calories, don't drink anything but water, unless it's milk to get my calcium in for the day!
3. Work out - haven't gone yet, but I looked at it and I'm scared! (And I don't usually get scared to go to the gym!)

Food:
Breakfast: 730a
1 cup Kashi Go-Lean Cereal
1/2 cup skim milk
1 egg and 1 egg white scrambled.
cup of water

Lunch: 1p (This was supposed to happen at 1130. I have to plan better!)
3 slices turkey breast
1 carb control wrap
3/4 cup raw broccoli
1/2 roma tomato
10 banana peppers
1 cup of skim milk.

Snack: 4p
1 medium apple
1/4 cup cashews

Dinner: 730p
Moroccan Chicken w Wild Rice
1 cup Celery
1 cup of milk

Calories for the day: 1479 (Barely MADE THE CUT today!)

WORK OUT:
2 x this w no rest between sets:
Circuit 1:
Dumbbell Press on Body Ball ( 2o reps)
Dumbbell Flys on on Body ball with Crunches (15 reps)
Squats (50 fast no weight)
one minute sprint at 7 mph

Circuit 2:
Plank (hold 10 seconds)
Close Grip Push-up (5 reps)
Side planks with inner Thigh Raise (10 seconds per side)
plank (5 more seconds)
Close Grip Push ups (5)
Side Planks with inner thigh raise (10 seconds per side)
Plank (5 seconds)
Burpies (straight from plank 10 reps)
Sumo Squats (50 reps)
One minute sprint at 7mph

circuit 3:
Frog push ups (20 reps)
Squat Thrusts (20 reps then hold a static squat for 30 seconds)
W shoulder presses with leg extension (10 reps each leg)
jump rope 1 minute

circuit 4:
bench dips (20)
Rope Tricep Presses (perform to muscle failure)
Static Lunges with lateral shoulder raise (10 reps with each leg fwd)
Mountain Climbers (reps for 1 min)
Boat Pose (hold 30 seconds)

Circuit 5:
Jump rope 1 minute
Bicycle crunches (50)
Extended plank (hold 30 seconds)

30 minutes of cardio.
Stretch..

Can we say ouch! 2 sets of that! It's going to probably take me just under 2 hours. Geez woman, what are you doing to me... Right, I am the one who decided to get ripped for swim suit season!

Well one day down... 29 to go.
Until tomorrow...

They say it comes in threes...but I honestly think it's more like 4 or 5...

I just have to laugh at life... I told myself that I would not be stressing any more, and that I was just going to enjoy life. Honestly, that vow has been going really well. Life is not as stressful, even though the last week has been less than ideal...

1. I clearly have no idea what dating is, nor do I know how to be friends with boys. That's just drama - but in my new perspective. What happened happened, and it's better. Honestly! I couldn't be happier!
2. My cell phone died - people don't believe that - but it died and no phone for most of the weekend. I confess that it makes me mad that people don't believe that I had to get a new phone, but again - things worked out and I got some sleep this weekend! It was good to be pulled away from the phone for once!
3. Flew Solo in Vail - however horrible that sounds to others, it was SO great! I met some new fabulous Boulder friends - Shout out to the Capri! - And had the time of my life at the OAR concert. Met cool new people - Beth and Aaron... I'm so glad I went! (I owe that to you Katy!)
4. Woke up with the worst case of strep throat ever - I've never had the blood blisters before... that was new. The good part of that was that I was a puzzle for the doctor. They didn't know what to think or prescribe to me... therefore that added value! Plus, I got some sleep (finally! I haven't been able to sleep in about 3 weeks, so that was a plus of all that. Still don't feel to hot, but that's okay!)
5. My car got hit this morning... I love car accidents! The good thing about that was that I was able to make some lady laugh even though she hit me! :) Life's too short my friends... WAY too short.

This new mind set has really paid off. People didn't believe that when I said that I was going to make myself immune from stress last Friday, that it would actually work. It's working people! I say you should adopt that same frame of mind... LIFE IS GOOD... even though there are some small pebbles in my way! :)

Okay, off to run (see you know life is good when I say off to run, and am actually happy about it!) 90 minutes here I come!!!

Until the next thought...

Body Builder Envy

REALLY!?!?!?

...I was in the gym last night and I had probably been there about 1 hour. It was back and bi day... Anyway, I was standing by the free weights doing the preacher bench to work out my amazing biceps, and this body builder guy (it was obvious that he was one) came prancing over... when I say prancing, he might as well have been frolicking through a meadow in a tutu. He came over to me and started talking, it was strange to say the least! He wasn't getting weights, and he wasn't really waiting on my machine... he came to chat. Now, when I'm at the gym I generally don't talk to people I don't know. Not that I wouldn't, but it just is hard to initiate conversation when I'm focused on working out. Therefore, it was sort of peculiar that he approached me as if we were at a bar. Any who, on with the story, he commented on my form and said that I was doing a great job. He then proceeded to tell me about this competition that he was training for last year, and how he had a work out partner to help train. (Note - I did not prompt any continuation in the conversation after the hello and form comment. He decided I asked him about this competition all on his own!) Then he proceeded to see if I had a work out partner (Joanie where were you last night!?!)... oh wait for it.... yes.... here it comes... 9, 10, 11, 12. Phew, I was done. I wiped sweat from my brow, and he kindly began another conversation - "So, do you want to be work out partners?" --- WHAT?! REALLY?! I don't remember even responding to his request to find out if I had one, and I don't remember continuing the conversation. Hmmm... I gave a little chuckle and said that I had a workout partner, but I appreciated the offer. ... Honestly, what the heck does that mean when a body builder asks if you want to be their workout partner? (I'm sure he meant nothing of it, but, OH!, the fun messages one can assume were subliminal.... )

Stay Tuned

As soon as I get 1 hour of free time.. I will be blogging about the adventures of MEXICO! whew!
I can't even wait!

Reality Check

Stress - it's not all it's cracked up to be! Why do I stress and worry about things so much? Even if they are in my control? I suppose the worry and anxiety fuel the stress and then I just lose touch with reality. I get in this awful funk, and then can't get out. I don't know what my problem is... so something has GOT to change! I decided that I no longer will worry or stress today. It's not worth my time, emotions, or energy. I know that it's not just an on-off button, but today is a new day and there is no reason to worry or be stressed!!!

I guess the reality check really came to me last night. I realized that I allowed my stress and exhaustion from the week affect how I responded to people ... and some of those people being kids! I love my Whiz Kid, Ashley, and, unfortunately, she ran away from home (hence the added worry and stress to last nights already stressful day/week). I took her siblings to the Nuggets game last night, and my energy was drained from the day of stress and added worry about Ashley. Rather than investing in the Lexi and Juan, who need just as much love as Ash, I worried and was in a stupid funk all night about Ashley. I suppose it doesn't mean that I can't show concern, but those kids need to see a little ray of sunshine in their day too - especially since they have to go home to all the anxiety and drama around the house...

Therefore - a new found revelation (that I've learned about 10 billion times) - Worry and Stress don't solve my problems, they only make things worse. If I'm in a funk around you - and I'm being stupid - please feel free to remind me of this revelation!

Opening Day...

Just venting... I'm not at the Rockies Home Opener this year... first year missed in a LONG LONG time! I'm mad.

I'll be a halfer in no time...

May 17th is going to come REALLY REALLY fast!

For those that don't know, I was signed up for a half marathon with Whiz Kids tutoring to run 13.1 miles for my student - Ashley Serrano. I love the girl. We've been together for 4+ years, and I figured it's about time I invest a few miles in her future! :) So... here we go.

Yesterday was the beginning of ENJOYING running.

For those that now me well, my philosophy on running has always been - "I only run when being chased, playing ultimate frisbee, or soccer." That's it. Running in my book was worthless, and dumb. I have tried to enjoy running SOOO many times, but do I like it? NOPE! Still didn't....(That is my feeble attempt to like running with the change of words - I would have use "don"t" in the past.) I think I've only enjoyed running a few times in my life, and that was when I was training for triathlons...and that wasn't even that much "fun." I just didn't want to die - so that was good motivation!

To get to the point... yesterday was my first day of actual training. Sure, I train and work out pretty much everyday anyway, but yesterday I mentally prepared myself to run 5 miles. I did it! Believe you me, I actually could have run 10! After about 8 hours of mentally preparing myself for a run, going over how I could make it, my breathing, and of course picking up a good mix of music... I went for a run. I actually felt great, and even ran some hills... What!?! Yep... so I have a little bit of encouragement that I actually will make the 13 miles here in 5 weeks. If I can run 5 now without too much of a problem, then I can do 13 in 5 weeks.

I did get a few strange looks leaving my office in running gear, so maybe I should run later when no one is around. Otherwise... no funny stories. It's just amazing that I actually ENJOYED it!?!?!

Who knew!