monday musings...

day 85:
happy monday blogosphere!

so now that the hustle & bustle of thanksgiving is behind us i am super ready to get back to life as we know it.
i think i totally psyched myself out last week – over-thinking the potential foodfest that would be & ultimately sabatoged any decent plan of attack i might have had.
live & learn & something i will not be repeating over xmas!

this time of year is just tough…
and not just in respect to diet. we are all under our own unique pressure & sometimes it can be crumbling & if you are an emotional eater like me & which i suspect most of us are – well it can lead to that which we are trying so hard to avoid.
last year i gained 7 lbs between thanksgiving & xmas. i also avoided my w8 watcher meetings for that 4 week span & did not track & certainly did not exercise. i was working like a fiend at the time & assumed that would be enough & obviously i was oh-so-wrong.
(aren’t i always when i think i know better?!?!)
this year that will not happen.
i will attend my weekly meetings & weigh-in’s no matter what (this past friday case in point).
i will continue to track & exercise daily.
and while i hope to lose – i will be happy not to gain during these next four weeks!

i have learned in these past 50 days (today is day 20 on the ripped in 30 if you can believe that!) that i need my daily workout – it makes everything okay; truly. it is my one time of the day that is solely about me & my needs & i need that. (don’t we all?) it allows me to focus on me & not be overwhelmed by all that life is throwing on my lap. and even when the workout is over i am so elated to have completed it that nothing gets me down!
oh & the added health benefits & the fact that i have noticeable weight loss & muscle tone is just a BONUS!

speaking of the ripped in 30…
as i stated, today is day 20 (tab above details my process) & i am on the tail end of level 3 which is just insanity! i have been able to do most of it but there are a few movements that i am just like *what the fuck* about.
table dips are not my friend!
lunge jacks are also not my friend.
duck walk – blech!
and that’s just a few.

it is without a doubt a whole new level of intense & not completely unattainable – but yesterday was the 1st day i got through it without pausing or copping out on a movement & i am 5 days in.
jillian is the master of pushing you to your limits all while telling you not to quit & that you can do it!
i ♥ her!
and i hear level 4 is just a whole new sorta hell… *gulp*!

also i am 4 days in on the sweet tooth challenge – 21 days of no junkfood.
day 2 so far was the hardest – my sweet tooth nearly got the best of me – but i stayed strong. i knew this was going to be tough & am trying to redefine my idea of a *treat* & *sweets*.
i bought a new blender & am on a smoothie kick – they are filling & sweet!
i make one with plain greek yogurt, fruit & fresh spinach in the morning & have another sans yogurt in the evening for a snack. the one without the yogurt is zero points!
score!
it gets my fruit in, curbs the sweet craving, & it’s healthy!
score!

i wanted to end today with a link to one of my most fave blogs of all time – life after I “dew”-- the 1st blog i ever *followed* even.

shannon is a real gal who says it like it is & has the most adorable little girl & cutie-pie hubby! oh and she is not hard on the eyes either & recently lost 47lbs the right way by diet & exercise.
okay enough gushing…
she wrote this post: healthy today & i just had to pass it along!
if you are a pintrest freak like me/us then you must see all the *thinspirations* floating around along with such mishapped advice on how to become these skeletor-esque women.
this photo was labeled as *thinspiration* and the pinner actually said “nice ribs”!?!?!

i think diet & weight is so personal & every person is entitled to strive for their own ideal – but i have to agree with shannon in that most mainstream ideals are unrealistic & certainly sending out the wrong message!
thanks shannon – you nailed it today with her post & it is a MUST read & as a gal in quest of a healthy fit body & as a mother of little girl it really rang true!
I never want my beautiful little girl to ever feel like she needs to be some emaciated being to be accepted & deemed ideal!
with that i bid adieu & post this question to you all?
what do you think of the *thinspirations* out there?!?!
do they inspire or terrify you?

for the record – this is what inspires me!
peace, l♥ve & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

monday mish-mash

day 78:
monday monday bloggerville!

so what’s new & exciting in the world of blogs?
in my neck of the woods it’s all about my new kicks!
i just decided to go with my doc’s recommendation & the consensus here (thanks rachel!) – saucony!

okay i seriously love these shoes & not just because they have some rockin’ purple laces & soles! they are light, comfy, & the second i put them on i felt like running!
matter of fact i logged in my fastest walk yesterday wearing these badass shoes!
i am thinking c25k (couch to 5k) next week perhaps?
i have yet to run in them but i am pretty confident. i just wish i liked the treadmill more – but i loathe it truth be told.

anywho…
i am still giving my knee time to heal – and it feels a lot better – but i am not 100% & feel pain during lunges/squats. if i am not better by the weekend – i will go back next week.
is it bad that i want a cortisone shot in the worst way?!?!?!
here is skylar, my 2 year old daughter, feigning a *boo-boo* so she can wear my knee brace. she finds it cool while i find it quite annoying… heh!

for the record – i am not ready for thanksgiving & i am not even the one cooking – my mom is.
i am trying extra hard to keep on track this week so i can cut loose on thursday – not overly crazy-like – but i wanna enjoy my day. and i will be @ my weigh-in/meeting on friday – yeah, as in the day after thanksgiving. it is what it is -- and i am prepared for a gain.
one day out of the year will not derail or define me.
the good news is that i am still doing this...
(click on the icon on my sidebar for more details & to join)


on friday brian & i are partaking in…
i am sure you guys have seen this *no junkfood challenge* floating around – 21 days of no chips, cookies, candy, white bread, ice cream, etc. – well this particular challenge is along the same premise & hosted by the always lovely maren @ from cow to wow.
she is a total peach & her blog is just awesomeness!
go check her out & join in the challenge if ya like.

this doesn’t change my view on not depriving yourself – but i definitely need a junk food detox & sweets are my biggest weakness!
besides – 21 days is the recommended amount of time to formulate new habits – and after doing the 30 day shred – i totally agree! i want new eating habits to go along with my new workout habits!
i wanna share another blog --fit2fat2fit -- i stumbled upon via pintrest – of course.
this man just blows me mind!
he intentionally let himself completely go for 6 months – no exercise & consuming as many calories/fat as he could resulting in a 70lb. gain! he is currently on the road back to losing the weight (3 weeks in) & getting back into shape. i am not exactly sure if i agree with his methods – he is eating a ridiculous low amount of calories daily – but it is interesting to read nonetheless.
he includes recipes, his meal plan, workout routine, vlogs, and a basic blog as well.
his goal is to relose the weight in 6 months as well & i am curious to see how & if he does it.

speaking of goals – since the day i began this journey – sept.5, 2011 – i never really set specific goals other than not to quit & to try & lose 6lbs. a month for the first 4 months. i figured that would take me through the holidays & i could then really form some solid goals.
now that i have surpassed where i ever expected i would be at this point i am really thinking that i need to formulate some legit goals. so for the next month or so i am going to contemplate what i want to accomplish in 2012 – because i have a lot that i want to accomplish!
it’s never too early to make plans for success!

well luvies – that’s all i got – run amuck & have a fuckin’ fantabulous day!

peace, l♥ve & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

tanning booth confessions vol.4

day 73:
hola blogaritas!

been awhile…
so let’s have a go @ it shall we?

<div align="center"><a href="http://chunkygoddess.blogspot.com/" title="misadventures of a chunky goddess" target="_blank"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wys9zSohkic/Tm4J93PL8FI/AAAAAAAAIEU/c_p27oUWSHA/s300/img0554tbc2.jpg" alt="misadventures of a chunky goddess" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

the random thoughts that permeate my sick twisted little brain whilst standing buck-ass naked in a tanning booth for the longest ten minutes of my life…

in situations like this you have no choice but to come clean and say it like it is…
so here goes – light a candle, chuck life the bird, and fess the fuck up!

confession:
i hurt my knee.
i didn’t wanna admit that i did – but i so did. it is a bazillion times better than 2 days ago but it has taught me a lesson. while my body is doing things i never thought capable; i am not invincible.

confession:
i have been having yet another food-a-palooza this week.
whiskey tango foxtrot?
i weigh-in on friday’s & i swear if i run amuck on the weekend it sets the tone for the remainder of the week. i am thinking i need to do away with my anything.goes.on.saturday mentality. i can control it some weeks but others (this one) i am struggling to get back on track & leave the crap food alone.

confession:
i suffer from depression & am medicated for it.
but wellbutrin has nothing on endorphins!
true fucking story!

confession:
i am trying the biotin & it was not $3 a bottle as they claim on pintrest.
it was $8 for 100 but i am willing to give it a whirl.
from what i hear it makes your hair & eyelashed fuller & shiney. also helps with nail growth – but i get mine done so no biggie there for me. i will keep ya’ll updated.

confession:
there is a lot of buzz about the paleo diet floating around & i am sorry but anyting nicknamed *the caveman diet* doesn’t appeal to me & i cannot help but feel like this is just another *diet*.
i get the premis & some of it actually makes a lot of sense & is very similar to clean eating (no processed crap) but omitting all gains baffles me?
didn’t we all do this diet in the 90s – it was called atkins i believe?
or the sugar busters diet?
maybe i am misinformed but it sounds very similar?

confession:
i start week 2 & level 2 on the ripped in 30! (tab above tracks my progress)
i have no clue what to expect because i never preview the workouts.
but as always – i am a wee bit nervous. just when you think you have one level licked – bam – time to up the ante & fuck your whole world up!
but that’s what i love about these workouts. they are 20-25 minutes long, never boring, & highly effective!

confession:
some days i exude confidence almost to the point of appearing cocky – other days i second guess every little thing i do…

confession:
a random dude flirted with me the other day. it was so bizarro.

confession:
my bestie told me that i was looking very *skinny bitch* the other day.

confession:
i have been totally slacking with my photography. i want a new camera in the worst way & i let that want hinder me sometimes. it’s truly not the camera & i need to remember that!

confession:
we need to move – like yesterday.
my family – all five of us – are temporarily (ha - 3+ years later) living in my grandmother’s house where my mom also lives. yeah 7 peeps in one little house that even though we pay bills for isn’t ours. and we are slapped with that fact daily. sometimes hourly.
i love my extended family (mom & grandma) but we need to be elsewhere!
the economy here is bad – no really we have one of the worst unemployment rates in the nation & i just read a news report that said we would be one of the last three states to jump back from this effin’ recession.
in 2017!
seriously?
we need to move – but how do you move if you cannot find a decent job to save up money? it is a vicious fuckin’ cycle & i have had just about enough of it.
our situation could be a gazillion times worse – we do not go without anything -- but i guess i just never thought we would still be exactly where we were when we decided to just stay here for a little while so we could save money for our own house.
we have done that but with the fact that there is no job security in this blasted state – it is just scary! and i know some people are making it work & trust me i envy them – i guess i cannot help but wonder when we will get our break in life?!?! we are not asking for a handout – far from it. i would just love bri to find a job where he is paid his worth & recognized for how hard he works.
okay -- i will stop – i could write a novel about this & how it contributed to my need for wellbutrin.
*fake smile*

so there ya have it – no shame in my game!
what do ya need to get off your ta-ta’s?!?!
spill it…
then cross your eyes, make the sign of the devil horns, and drink a double hail bloody mary and all is forgiven…

peace, l♥ve & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

lazy-ass blogger

day: 44
yo my blog-diggity’s

let me start by sayin’ that i am totally wiped tonight – so i am gonna be a lazy-ass blogger and just share some awesome-ness i scored via pintrest.
(please tell me you pin!)



i ♥ pintrest – they have everything & these are just wonderous!

ohhh & a question – anyone ever try this?
just curious…
detox: green smoothie — 1 cup baby spinach, 1 cup kale, 1 pear, 1 ½ cup of orange juice, and 1 frozen banana.

i remember reading a blog on the weight watcher site & the woman swore by it. i am not sure if this is the exact recipe she used – seems familiar – but she had it for breakfast every day & swore that it was the secret to her getting to goal & keeping the weight off.

on a small note: today makes one month solid that i have blogged daily – thus finishing my NaBloPoMo self-imposed challenged.
i have actually enjoyed the daily bloggin – oddly enough – it has kept me quite accountable.
although i cannot tell you how many nights i have dashed home like a effin’ maniac trying to blog in time. whether or not i will continue to do the daily thing? who freakin’ knows?

off to the gym i go.
i wish i could crawl into my jammies and go to bed – but i need my fix & i will be grateful i pushed myself to go after the fact!
spread the bloggy l♥ve, eat your veggies, and love yourself!
xxoo
cyn


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