30 days: 9 pounds, 3 inches…and miles to go before I sleep….and miles to go before I sleep

Progress

For you literary buffs, you’ll probably recognize that last line from Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening“, a poem that is near & dear to my heart.

So this week in 90 Day Challenge news, I was faced with ugly hormonal cravings & decided to switch up the pace on the fitness front. I mentioned that  I need variety or I get bored,  so the week started with a 30-minute Sweat workout from P90 and that was my intended plan for the week but after the first day I changed my plan, opting for a more varied, exciting direction. Not that there’s anything wrong with P90, it’s a solid 30 minutes of cardio that produced a nice sweat for the asking but I found myself getting a little bored so I mapped out a new plan that seems to be working so far. It’s pretty simple – I tackle a different workout every day, pulling from my Fitness folder that has occupied my MAC’s desktop for some time, as well as my  Workout board on Pinterest  & of course, all the amazing workout options via You Tube.

Here’s some of the workouts I followed this week:

My wrists were a little sore by the third set, but I definitely felt it!

Okay, this workout is killer! It’s only 12 minutes but it’s an intense, full-body workout & I was so glad when it ended!

Core Burner

I felt this the next day, Planks are no joke! I couldn’t last an entire minute for every exercise but I definitely did better than I thought I would! :smile:

Burn 100 Calories

I did this workout today & it’s another fire-starter! By fire-starter, I mean it fires up the fat-burning levels in the body which I normally won’t truly feel until the next day….. hate it now/ love it later!

Now that I’m 36 days in, I’m happy to report that so far, I’ve lost 9 pounds & 3 inches from my waist. My next weigh-in is 10 days away & next week, I plan to create my own Six Day Boot camp to boost my efforts & reach my goals…

Summer’s coming y’all! :smile:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayers for Boston: Celeste & Sydney Recovery Fund

Celeste & Sydney

  Sydney(daughter) & Celeste (mom)

When I logged into Facebook yesterday, a friend shared this post & it caught my attention. I decided to share it on my blog because I’m sure the family appreciates any exposure their story receives. I don’t personally know anyone in attendance at the Boston Marathon this year. A former boss & avid runner participated a few years ago & I recall her excitement over the camaraderie of fellow runners and spectators. I am deeply saddened by this tragedy and those forever affected by its devastation. My prayers and condolences are with them all.

The picture above is of Celeste and Sydney, both were badly injured in the blasts at the Boston Marathon. Sydney suffered severe injuries as a result of being hit with shrapnel and Celeste has lost both her legs below her knees. There is a long road of recovery and healing ahead – and their family is hoping to relieve some of the financial burden by raising funds in their name. You can click on the link below to read more about their story, see pictures of their recovery & positive attitude, and donate if you can or just help spread the word.

Celeste & Sydney Recovery Fund by Alyssa Carter 

Tonight, Brian Williams will feature their story including an interview with members of their family. You can watch that segment on NBC at 10pm tonight, 4/19, on Rock Center with Brian Williams.

Watch Chicago’s Fab 5 Bring ♡ & Comfort to Boston

 

"Ruthie, at 1 1/2 years old, is the most energetic of the group."

“Ruthie, at 1 1/2 years old, is the most energetic of the group.”

As the country is once again emotionally devastated by an inhumane act of utter cruelty, we pray for the families and those injured as a result of the marathon bombings. I’m sure I’m not the only one rendered speechless by this tragedy, sometimes you just can’t find the words.

Reading this story and seeing the beautiful pictures of just what an amazing impact dogs can have on the human spirit, brightened my day.

An excerpt from the Glamour.com feature story:

Debbie Custance, a London psychologist who’s studied the empathy of dogs, explained to National Geographic that during times of crisis, interactions with humans involve “expectations and judgments,” but interactions with dogs are refreshingly simple.

“[It's] a very uncomplicated, non-challenging interaction with no consequences,” she said. “And if you’ve been through a hard time, it’s lovely to have that.

Meet the 5 Comfort Dogs Trying to Help Bostonians Recover 

Zumba…. It’s a Love/Hate

ZumbaOh boy, where do I start?

My cardio this week has consisted of two Zumba workouts – Rapido & Advanced. While I’m glad I finally got to see what all the hype is about, I’m not a huge fan of either workout. For a girl who likes structure and clarification, it fails to satisfy either of those needs and yet…

Continue reading

Weight Loss, Challenges & Sweating…. {my life this week}

10 Minute Quik Fix

As I mentioned last week, I’ve worked out for the past two weeks now.

Six days each week. All cardio (for now)

Physical activity is not my thing and hasn’t been since reaching my 20s & relocating to the burbs. Sad truth. Growing up in Chicago, I was always on the go, walked everywhere with friends. Even when my best guy friend earned his license and became the unofficial chauffeur to three teenage girls with a bevy of location-based needs, we still walked most places without even thinking about it, it was just part of our lifestyle. Of course, in the city everything is within walking distance, not to mention the energy is so different – a constant buzz of bustling chaos that kept me busy, out & about. But then I fell in love & moved to the cozy quiet way of the suburbs where everything is slower, calmer…..and my metabolism + eating habits quickly followed suit – - – - soon to be joined by pounds & pounds of weight gain…womp, womp….fat girl blues right?

Continue reading

Damnit WordPress, you’re ruining my {blogging} life!

Yep, I said it!

Forgive me for being dramatic, I’m sweaty…..

This week has been engrained in physical activity, which I’m innately allergic to and yet convinced that if you’re fat & don’t wanna be anymore, it’s a necessary torture. And since I’m neurologically programmed to fail at multi-tasking, I’ve had a time combining the practice of a sound (see: disciplined) nutritional establishment (diet is a bad, bad word) while keeping up with the daily posting of my blog. Sooo, I’m posting more than once today to catch up & fire off these drafts that I prepared in advance, only to publish behind, nice right?

Continue reading

A tip on plastic bottles and recycling….

Yes, those are my empty water bottles prepped for the recycle bin. It's a guilty pleasure, I know I should switch to some pricey filter situation but I just can't, I'm a water snob, I admit it.

Yes, those are my empty water bottles prepped for the recycle bin. It’s a guilty pleasure, I know I should switch to some pricey filter situation but I just can’t, I’m a water snob, I admit it.

If plastic bottles have a number 1 or 2 on the bottom (in the chasing arrows), it means you can always put them in your recycling bin. Every city differs on which plastic numbers they accept, so contact your local bureau of sanitation to get the scoop.

For more info, read this helpful, detailed article:

What Does the Recycle Number Mean on a Plastic Container?