30 days of Jillian Michaels- Day 6

I literally had tears of sweat dripping into my eyeballs! Wow, level 2 30 Day Shred is tough.

Today was kinda cool, like the Secret and my 30 days with Jillian all whirled together.

So, as per the past 5 days, I didn't work out in the morning. Then this afternoon after work, grocery shopping, and preparing dinner, I really did not feel like working out. However, Clyde was running 30 min later than I thought he would be, so I took that 30 min to workout before dinner. Then, since I worked out, I was running behind on the dinner, and then I realized that I was supposed to water plants for my neighbors, and had time.

Kind funny how things work out. Also, just random...I saw the coolest bird today, it was really small and black and bright yellow. I've never seen such a brightly colored bird around here.

SOoooo exited for the Lake weekend! Although I am not smaller by the numbers on the scale (maybe next week I'll get more serious about not eating junk) and I'm not that smaller by the clothes yet, I FEEL better, which is amazing. I'm so happy I took on this challenge. The further I get, the more I want to go. And now that I'm 6 days in, I want to finish all 30.

Tomorrow, day 7, I plan on working out before the lake. I'm thinking I'll give myself a day off for day 8, but i'll still try and be active. Then pick back up for day 9. Since I am taking day 8 off, it is crucial that I workout on days 7 and 9. Although I've made so much progress, I know me, and if I dont do days 7 and 9, I wont do days 10, 11, 13, etc....

Ideas for future goals after this one:

• Triathalon at Centennial Park (its mini, and kayak no swimming, I dont think I could swim more than 10 seconds!)
• 10 K
• Perhaps a half marathon, marathon in my life time??
• Reach my weight goal
  
• Be an even healthier eater (including giving up foods that are shitty for you once and for all)

I have to say though, I did Weight watchers back in October of 08, starting at 142lbs. Since weight watchers, I am a more concious eater, and that has gotten me very far, maybe not pound-wise, but emotionally and awareness of what I'm eating, why I'm eating, thats a big step.

I'm feeling kinda sore after today's workout, means I pushed myself :)

30 days of Jillian Michaels- Day 5

I'm so proud of myself. I'm 5/30th, or 1/6th of the way through! (Like those math skills? yeah, i've been studying my DAT math)

I did the BFBM dvd which is KILLER!!! I am looking forward to towards then end of these 30 days, I'll be able to do the whole dvd and do each move at "expert" level.

Didn't workout this morning, but eh, thats ok, I still worked out.

30 days of Jillian Michaels- Day 4

Today I did a Jillian Michaels workout via netflix instant view, Shape up: Back. It was so awesome to get a new workout, but not having to buy a new DVD.

I didnt work out this morning, so I knew I was going to have to do it in the evening. So right after leaving work I had it in my head, "Laura, as soon as you go home, workout and get it over with"

AHhhhh so nice to have it done. Tomorrow I'm going to try and get my work out done in the morning.

Funny thing, I used to tell myself that I only like to work out in the morning, or "if i dont do it in the morning, I won't have energy in the evening" Well I was totally wrong, so far all 4 of my workouts have been in the evening. Just goes to show you how much you can trick yourself into thinking that you are a certain way. As Jillian says..." you have no idea of what you are capable of until you try"

30 days of Jillian Michaels- Day 3

Well, I almost didnt work out today, but I DID IT! I did level 1 of the 30 day shred. Today was kind of a lazy day for me, so in the end I told myself, just workout and get it over with. I knew if I didnt just force myself to just do it, I wouldnt work out today, then it would be just like before, I wouldnt work out tomorrow, then the next day, etc.

I'm already feeling a little stronger!

I went shopping today and although I'm not any smaller yet, I feel better about my body. I feel just a little tighter and toned, and I feel good that I've been working out.

Only day 3 and already feeling good! just 27 more days to go!

My motivation for the rest of the week...I'm going to be away this weekend with friends, and put on a bathing suit!

30 days of Jillian Michaels- Day 2

Day 2

Today I did the No More Trouble Zones DVD. This was the first time I've done this DVD, it was nice to do a brand new workout. This is formatted like the one I did yesterday, 7 circuits. This was a little more strength training than Cardio. A lot more lunges & squats...ouch my knees!!!

Once again, I felt like just quitting about 20 minutes in, but I pushed through and finished it. I think thats probably the point where I always want to quit, at 20 minutes. Hmm...

I already feel a sense of accomplishment having worked out today. In the other realm of my life right now, studying for the DAT, where I'm not feeling accomplished, so at least in one aspect, I'm doing okay!

So after blogging yesterday and setting up this goal for myself, I took some cheezy pics of myself in the mirror (arg, read my blog about my pet peeve about mirror pics...). However, I am saving these pictures as motivation. Kind of like when you are looking through a magazine and think "I want to look like that", but in this case, its " I don't want to look like that". I think having those pictures of me as a starting point will also be nice to look back on. Yuck though, I look at it and thing "omg, do I really look like that" :-/

So more motivation besides just looking good naked/in a bikini:

• I want to fit into my ski clothes next time I go skiing. Those bibs are getting tight! haha
• Picking out clothes & going out will be so much more fun, then I wont get the spirialing feeling of shittyness when I'm going out. The whole "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"
  
• I want to feel attractive and tight and lean. I love that feeling right after you've worked out, or when you feel sore the next day...ahh love it.
  
• I always live for tomorrow, and say "oh i'll do that once I lost weight". Well Tomorrow is TODAY!

Many more reasons including just being healthy, but just those are top of my mind today.

30 days of Jillian Michaels- Day 1

This is a HUGE ambition that I am setting out to do. I'm going to workout with Jillian Michaels (via her DVDs, obvi) for 30 days. I have done her DVDs before and I know they are hard, and a great workout. When I first bought the 30 day shred, I did it 5 x in one week, and lost 3 pounds, but then I faded off. I just think, if I had only kept going, I'd probably have reached my "happy weight" by now. (My happy weight/goal weight is 115-120, about 20 pounds less than I am now).


So what I'm going to do:

• Do a workout with Jillian EVERYDAY, for 30 days
  
• Blog about it
• NOT GIVE UP!
  

Day 1: Saturday July 11,2009
Weight: 136
Workout: Banish Fat Boost Metabolism DVD
Comments:
Wow. I'm feeling good after finishing that DVD. I did the WHOLE THING! (I've done it previously; first I only did 3 circuits, then 4, then 5, but today i worked up to doing the whole thing, I'm proud of myself). I realize that like she says, you have to push yourself to get your body to change. I know that if I want the results she is promising, I'm going to have to keep up my HR during these DVDs. What I love, and whats going to help me, is that throughout the workouts she says things like "Don't phone it in" and "You should be begging for death by now" or "Don't quit on me now". AHhh, I love her saying that, its exactly the PUSH I need.

So, I know this is going to be hard for me. First of all, I cant remember the last time I worked out more than 3 days consecutively, let along blogged for more than 3 days consecutively.

Another reason why it will be hard is because I know myself, and I set out big goals for myself, but then never follow through.

Why this time is going to be different? I'm keeping it simple! I'm going to try and keep it as simple as 1)work out 2)blog after it afterwards (and if not a whole entry, atleast just write down that I excercised). I'm not going to try and combine it with planning out my meals, or also try and workout exactly the same time each day, or make it too complicated. Making it too complicated has let me to failure in the past.

I'm going to keep my eye on the prize. Just 30 days (now only 29 since I've already worked out today!) This is just my first goal. I'm not worrried about how much weight I lose, or increasing my flexibility, toning up. The bottom line: I'm forcing myself to work out for 30 days. Why? Because I need to get myself to realize that I can do it. I think the big first step for me is just getting into the habit of working out.

How do you eat an elephant? By taking one bite at a time. Yes, I have bigger and more holistic goals for myself, but this is just the first step!

Grocery stores, a little history of shopping.

My little stint working at the deli taught me a lot about grocery stores, which got me to thinking, we spend a lot of time at grocery stores. Although I didnt enjoy working at the deli, read the posts to come, I think it was a good experience. I think the same thing for people who work at restaurants. You view your restaurant eating experience a lot different after you have worked at one.

I never really enjoyed grocery shopping until college. Before college, I dreaded it because I would have to walk up and down the aisles really bored, not allowed to buy the kind of cereal I wanted to get. Don't mention the times that I'd be sent to get something at the opposite end of the store, and then walk up and down the aisles looking for my Mom, ugh I hate feeling lost in stores!

I did like grocery shopping in college though. It was so nice my Junior/Senior year to go grocery shopping. I loved having the ability to plan out a delicious healthy meal, go buy the ingredients. I also loved buying whatever I wanted, going whatever pace I wanted, etc. And also, The Harris Teeter at Elon was brand new, and wonderful! Ah, I miss it! I remember being in the store and calling my Mom to ask her a question such as "Where do they keep the raisins" (seriously though, do you know?) or "How much fish should I buy to feed X number of people" I think some of those initial questions that I had were "rookie mistakes" and helped me be more independent. A little part of me also called and asked her those questions because either I was a little lonely, or wanted to make her feel like she was part of my life. Sometimes I regretted calling her because 1) she didn't give me a simple answer to my simple question 2) she would keep chatting and NOT HANG UP and 3) she wouldn't know the answer and kind of round about give me a long answer with lots of details what had nothing to do with the question I was actually asking....ugh.

Now that I'm back living at home, I'm back to hating grocery shopping again. (Sorry now for the "mom bitching" but I feel like this is therapeutic to get it off my chest)

I just don't understand why we don't have any food in our house. Our pantry and refridgerator are both full, but when I go to make something to eat, there is nothing! Its a phenomenon.

Some things that bug me know that I'm back at home/My OCD list for grocery shopping. (Makes me think, Hmm maybe this is another reason why I'm single, I hope my future significant other "gets" this.

Before you go grocery shopping:

• Check your inventory at home to see what you have, what you need
• Throw out old food
• Clean up the fridge if it needs to be done
• Clean up the kitchen if it needs to be done
  
• make a LIST (especially if you have planned out your meals/recipes for the week, you can check the ingredients lists and make sure you have what you need to get, and make sure you have enough "staple items" for the recipe: olive oil, spices, etc)
  

While grocery shopping:

• Stick to the list (it will save yourself time and money! I will allow myself 1 "splurge" item every once in a while, and I try to be reasonable about it, usually its something that is on sale, or a new product I want to try, or Real Simple Magazine)
• Go in one direction (usually helps when you categorize your list according to the grocery store, and helps prevent lost children like me when I was younger!)

Once you get home:

• bring everything in first
• take everything out of the bags
• put away items NEATLY and where they should go
• Do prep work for the recipes you plan to make in the week (this is called "lumping" or something similar. I read it somewhere that if you lump together your chores that it helps you get them done faster, and you dont feel as stressed/bored with the mundane chores. I like to prep right after I bring things home from the grocery store. Also, it help me actually eat what I ate. Example: if i bring home grapes, before I even put them in the fridge, I wash them and pull them off the vine, then put them in baggies or Tupperware and store them in the fridge. This way, I have a healthy snack/dessert ready to eat!

Other thoughts

• buy things when on sale, use coupons
• Go shopping/do prep work on sunday or monday (I'm not sure if this is when the rest of the world shops, but I like it because its a refreshing start to the new week)