Sunday, February 26, 2012

Insanity Day 1 (Plyometric Cardio Circuit)

Unless you have been living under a rock, then I am sure that mostly everyone has heard of Insanity with Shaun T. 


J.D. and I purchased Insanity last year. We got three weeks into the program until he couldn't do it anymore because of his back and knees, and I, who have never had a single knee problem, had to stop too because it was killing my knees. It was extremely disheartening.

I am a competitive person by nature, and when we started doing Insanity, I wanted to go and push and look just like the people in the video. I did...for the first day. Then my thighs hurt so bad that I could hardly walk up and down the stairs without crying. Eventually we worked beyond that, but it scared me. Then towards the end of those three weeks, my knees were constantly popping; they even buckled a few times. That scared me even more. I knew that Insanity was a cardio, high intensity, and high impact workout, but I never dreamed that it would but so much stress on my body. So we stopped, and I never looked back because I was afraid to hurt myself again. I was scared to agitate my knees. And, at the time, I was too weak to do the workout without J.D.

Today I did day 1 of Insanity all over again. But I took what I learned from Julian and Bodyrock, and I modified some of the workouts to fit me. Also, I played my own music, and beyond remembering the workout routines, I didn't watch the T.V. because I didn't want to get caught up in the video and over do it.

I know how to lose weight. A few summers ago I went from 160 to 138. I went back up to school and have been between 155 and 150 ever since. I never forgave myself back making all that progressing and then throwing it all away. Because I know how to eat right and workout, I think that I have this mentality that, "I can lose weight anytime." This is unhealthy because it is an excuse not to workout and not to eat right, and then in turn, not take care of my body. Also, because I know how to lose weight and I know how to work out, I want to go all out. Do the video. Run 5 miles. Eat super healthy. I don't give myself time to adjust, and in turn, I hurt myself. Then I get discouraged and don't end up working out because I can't.

This time I was smart. I am a good kind of sore today. I am not hurt at all. I ate healthy. Maybe I can get back on track. I want to lose the weight. I want to be happy with how I look, especially with my wedding being in November. If I don't lose the weight, I will hate everything about the wedding. I need to make this happen. I need to be healthy and smart and not over do it. (And this is really hard to admit, I do have a problem. I do go over board. I hurt myself. I find excuses). This time will hopefully be different. I know that I need to keep myself accountable, but it is hard doing this by myself. Cheers to trying to do the right thing for myself.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day Early

First off there is nothing worse than to be out fighting throngs of pre-adolescent toddlers and ancient lover birds on February 14th for tables, parking spaces, and quality service (which is unheard of on V-day). Service of any kind is non-exsistance on the 14th. The servers basically throw the food at you, and it is usually cold, dry, or fuzzy. Which makes for an overall unpleasant experience.

Because of these unavoidable situations, I never ever go out on Valentine's Day. EVER. Knowing this, J.D. decided that it would be best for us to celebrate this weekend. We got all dressed up and snappy looking.

Proof of the before mentioned snappiness. 

Before we left, he gave me a gift. Something so special and so perfect that I had one of those moments. A moment so wonderful deep in my heart that I knew I would be telling my children about it one day. The kind of moment that lets you know that you are right where you are supposed to be. It is a throbbing stillness that shakes the walls around you and brings tears to your eyes. It was an impossible moment that I have only ever seen poorly acted out in the movies. Usually a moment that involves an Easy Bake Oven that Mr. Perfect finds and the fair and lovely female lead is swept off her feet.

Well, my Mr. Perfect found the elusive childhood toy of my dreams. The one that I always wanted. The one that I always hoped I would get. The one that I brought up once to J.D. many moons ago, and today was the day that I got it!

The Kissing Simba and Nala Lion King stuffed animals with magnets in their noses/mouths? 

This man has my heart more fully than any other person in the entire world.
Once all the screaming and smooching was over we left for Olive Garden. Were we got some to die for food.

J.D.'s yummy food. 
My Seafood Alfredo.
 (He also bought me a bottle of my favorite type of wine. He is SUCH a good man.)

I gave him the crafty I-love-you gift that I made him. I'm sure most everyone has seen it around. I modeled the design after the original, and I designed it on my silhouette machine, printed it off, stuck it on the back of a deck of cards, punched 104 holes, and bound them together. Also, don't forget the 52 reasons why I love J.D. and that would be my gift.



Here are a few of the reasons that I included.


I got this dress on modcloth.com. Isn't it wonderful?
I also wanted to include a view from the back of my dress. 
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!  
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Running

I ran 3 miles today in 30 minutes. Running has always been something that I enjoy; I just don't like hot or cold weather. Then when it is nice outside, I would rather hula hoop. Man I enjoy hula hooping.

My plan is to keep stretching today, and then do level 1 and 2 of the Shred tomorrow.

I rocked out to the Goo Goo Dolls on my Ipod today while I was running, and it was freeing. There was a guy running on one of the treadmills when I got to the multipurpose building on campus. He had a weight vest on and was walk-running. The sweat was literally pouring off of his forehead. When I began to run, he looked at me like I wouldn't last because I started out running pretty fast. I have to admit that when I run, I love to feel a strong burn. With most workout videos the hosts encourage the viewer to "feel the burn" and "don't stop 'til it hurts." And don't get me wrong, I do that, but my heart isn't in it. I push, but I don't push until my muscles shake.

When I run, I want my calves to ache and burn. I love pushing through the burn and telling my body to shut the hell up. I enjoy that horrible split feeling in my shins when I have completed a hard run. The feeling of my feet hitting down on whatever surface creates a soothing rhyme. Everything about it feels wonderful. And then when I am done, the sick, hot feel of sweat pooling on my spine and clinging to my shirt is a feverishly good feeling. Oh! I can't forget the cold smack of the air on my skin when I walk outside of a hot building. My skin practically sizzles and sets off steam.

I feel so good. :)

Monday, February 6, 2012

Life This Week

I student taught last semester, and then I graduated. After spending all my time in a classroom, making a difference, I got extremely depressed once I was done. At first, it was nice to have a break from all the hustle and bustle of teaching, the student attitudes, and waking up so early, but after a few weeks, all I wanted to do was be in a classroom.

I have worked retail since I was sixteen years old. I have always had a job and been going to school. During the summers, I would work two jobs and take summer classes. I was always busy, and I liked it that way. Somewhere in my head I knew that once I was done with college, I couldn't go back to my life in retail.

I had a lot of emotional ups and downs about the whole thing. Mostly, I found myself settling into a deep embarrassment that I was floating and not making anything of my life. I was frozen. I felt lost.

My supervising teachers at the high school and the university both expressed that I was one of the best, and what was I doing? I was sitting at home, watching TV, searching the internet, planning my wedding, and basically being pointless. I felt terrible about myself most of the time. And every time I was ready to call my reserve quits and start applying for retail jobs, I spiraled into a deeper, uglier depression.

As of today, I have subbed twice in a high school English class and a high school speech class. I feel light, almost feathery. I feel back on track. This-this is what I have been waiting for. Purpose. Practice. A job that I want. A job that I can feel good about. I feel rejuvenated. I feel like I have been drowning under water, and now I have finally broken the surface and am pulling in ragged breaths of fresh air.

It has also inspired me to begin creating my own lesson plans again. I have been reading my different grammar books- highlighting and post-it noting the pages like crazy. It has felt fantastic. I have purpose. I have direction. I have goals. I am finally doing things again that make me feel worthwhile.


**~**~**

Wedding updates!!!

Alright, so I know my side of the wedding part, and J.D. still needs to ask his boys- he wants to do it in person, which I think is sweet. My maid of honor is Jessica. She is one of my very best friends, and my bridesmaid is my sister-in-law, Jen. I am stoked that they are going to be sharing my special day with me. They are both awesome and very supportive.

I bought two cake toppers on Ebay for an awesome price. Aren't they beautiful?




My flower girls are going to be my nieces, Jasmin and Arielle. They are adorable.



I know what dress I am wearing. I know what I want the cake to look like. I know the wedding colors- red and yellow. I know my theme, obviously.

The temporary decisions that I have made are as follows:

Wedding and reception site- Celebration church (Located in O'Fallon)
Wedding cake- Whipt Cream (Located in Chesterfield)
Video and photography- STLvideos (Located in St. Charles)
Caterer- Something Italian (Location unknown)
Tuxedo colors- Gray and yellow? Gray and red?
Flower girls' dresses- I have found some that I love, but I need to pick the dress type for my girls and the guys, so the little girls' dresses match.
MOH and Bridesmaid dresses- I have no freaking idea. I found a yellow one that I really like, but I am still playing with the idea of MAYBE, and I mean MAYBE, letting them pick their own. I am also thinking of having one of them wear yellow and one wear red. Then the groomsman and best man would have to match their counterparts for the wedding.

Flower girl dresses that I love!


I have also found myself at one of those fun parts of the planning wear a certain someone keeps telling me people that I, apparently, have to invite. We are keeping our wedding small, less then 80 people, which compared to most weddings, is small. I would really prefer that it be between 40 and 50 but I know that will never happen. So I am keeping it under 80, and I sick of the, "well this is my friend and you have to invite her/him because he/she means a lot to me." My muted response is, "I could care less. Pay for the food and extra decorations that it would cost, and you can invite whoever you want. Oh, you don't want to? Then back off." But I would never actually say that. I have just resorted to, "We can't afford any more people."

Also, one of my new favorite videos is "Shit Brides Say". Haven't seen it? You need to!!!

I have also made my first of many paper book roses that will be used to decorate my wedding. They will make up my bouquet, the girls' bouquets, and the boutonnieres. It will be fantastic!


All in all I would say that things are starting to come together slowly yet surely.