Creativity is rearing her head

I've talked on and off about looking into some other creative outlets. I think I've found it. I'm going to continue working with beads and making beaded jewelry because that will always be a passion. But I'm also going to take classes on Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator so I can be more efficient and professional at desktop publishing and web design.

I think work will even pay for the classes because it would relate to my job. We'll see.

She has the crud...

Last week was a bit of a wash for working out for a number of reasons. This week hasn't been much better due to being under the weather. I stayed home from work sick on Monday and have been napping in the mornings after J leaves to try and catch up on my sleep. Perhaps tomorrow I'll try and get there. We'll see.

We had our pictures taken Friday and although they turned out good I really don't like the way I look. I look dumpy. It is a delusion really...that I've lived under that I look really don't look as big as I do. So when I saw the pictures I was disappointed and shocked at my size. So next week is my restart...

I want to feel better about how I look and feel.

I Love Working Out

So I hadn't been to the gym for the past two mornings because I needed to not wash my hair before my appointment. So vanity won out. This morning I was back...and I did 20 minutes on the crosstrainer and then 40 minutes on weights. It felt good. I was so not prepared though...I forgot my headband to hold my hair back. I forgot my iPod. But they play music and I was able to get my hair back with a ponytail.

I had something happen that hadn't happened before...I had a Zen moment if you will on the weights where I was in a groove and just kept going it was great.

My first 5K

So this weekend was filled once again...but fortunately not a food fest.

Friday after work I went to the salon to get my hair back to my natural color. I got there at 3:30 PM. I didn't leave until 8:00 PM. I had dyed my hair black and so it had to be bleached three times to get the color out. Then she put a glaze and a few highlights to brighten it back up again. Apparently 3 times of being bleached is rough on hair... who'd of thunk. But Carol did an amazing job. When I got home J was in a bit of an off mood and I was exhausted. So when he hit me with the idea of going me going to our friends' house to spend time with K while he went to see "Paranormal Activity" with R I thought he was crazy. But it worked out she was exhausted and not up for it so the boys went to the movie on their own. He tried to talk me into going but I knew I would not like scary so I passed. He got home late and said it was the scariest movie he'd ever seen. So glad I didn't go...I cleaned house instead. Much better...

Saturday we went with our friends Traci and Sheila and Traci's guy, Gary to walk/run the 5K at the Shipyard. J ran it, Traci and Gary ran/walked it, and Sheila and I walked it. All and all we were happy. Then we went to IHOP for breakfast which was good because we were starving. When we got home I showered and went to Pin Ups for my haircut. (It was supposed to happen last night but it was so late it got rescheduled to today) It turned out great...Jackie is amazing. Then I got home relaxed a bit and we went to Johnny and Rachael's for their open house. We had fun and good food. Then we stopped at Tony's for a bit and came home.

Sunday we went to church...then we stopped by Rod and Kendra's to pick up our heater. We hung out for a bit talking to Rod and Kendra. They are wonderful people. Then we went to lunch/dinner with Mom and Dad at the German restaurant. Very yummy! Then we went to Care-a-Lot for pet stuff and to Food Lion for people stuff. Then home. All and all a good weekend but way too short.

Pumpin' Iron

So today was my first day doing weights on my own. I went in and did 20 minutes on the Cybex Arc Trainer which I love because I burn more calories in less time. Whoo hoo. Then I started my 10 machine workout as assigned by my trainer. I worked my arms, legs, abs, and back. It was good. Right now I'm doing 2 sets of 8 reps. I haven't done weights in a while so I wanted to be nice to myself and start out slow. It felt good.

So my plan is

• Monday=20 minute cardio + 40-45 minute weights
• Tuesday=45-50 minute cardio
• Wednesday=20 minute cardio + 40-45 minute weights
• Thursday=45-50 minute cardio
• Friday=20 minute cardio + 40-45 minute weights
• Saturday=Activity of some sort
• Sunday=rest

This week though I have a 5K on Saturday and I missed Tuesday's workout so I'm thinking those kind of balance each other.

Food wise I'm doing better the past couple of days. But still not getting all the fruits and vegetables I should. But I'm eating better than I have been.

Weekend Eating Fest...

So if I wasn't a foodie going into this weekend I am certainly one now.

Friday night we caught up with some friends we hadn't seen since Easter. We went to dinner at Hayashi Japanese Resturant which was very yummy and not too bad health wise. I had grilled shrimp with vegetables, rice, soup, and salad. And I had a glass of wine with dinner. Then we went to P & J's for wine afterwords. Still not too bad.

Saturday J got up early and took puppies for a three mile walk. He was trying to let me sleep in but we live near an industrial yard and they were running a drill over the loud speaker. And our neighbor's dog was barking like mad. So I got up...made coffee...and cleaned house a bit. Then J and I had some time to ourselves before heading to the mall. We walked around the mall for a bit. (an hour and a half) We had lunch at the mall which consisted of a slice of pizza (ham & pineapple for me), a garlic roll, and a bit of pasta. Not the best but felt it was balanced by our walking. We went to the bridal shop to check on my veil. I negotiated a sweet deal on it because of a small flaw. Then we went home and napped. Before heading to my bosses' house for dinner. It was amazing...we had filet mignon with cheese on top, with fruit salad, brocoli casserole, salad, and a crescent roll. It was so very yummy. It was probably not as healthy as it should have been but it was a celebration of us getting married.

Sunday we went to church. Then I got home and Dad and I went to the opera. It was La Boheme and they did a good job with it which was nice since we had seen it before. Then Dad dropped me off and we met Mom and Dad at the County Grill for dinner. It is a BBQ Smokehouse place. And usually I have a modest portion but in this case Prime Rib was the special. And I knew I should go for something else but it was too good so I ate it. Along with sides that weren't very healthy. But I really hadn't eaten much else throughout the day which is one of my bad habbits.

Monday we woke up at the crack of dawn to go to the YMCA for our "fitlinx" orientation. J decided he didn't really need it because all he is doing there is free weights. So he waited downstairs while the trainer walked me through. He explained a new cardio machine that I liked alot. And then he walked me through ten different weight exercises to complete my training. I did well on all of them. And enjoyed doing them. Then we came home and took care of the puppies. We fixed a healthy breakfast. And we took a short nap before we went to meet J's sister and her fiance for bowling. We had a good time. M and I probably bored the guys to death with wedding talk but we had fun. Then we went to Ruby Tuesday's for dinner. I got a Prime Burger with the salad bar. I ate way too much again because I was uncomfortable when we left. I should have eaten half or split the burger with J. Note for the future. We then went to the store and to a couple other places to walk around for a bit. We headed home and took care of the puppies.

I feel like the exercise we got countered the food we ate but I would have liked to have more exercise and less food. So today I am working on eating healthier. And I have my clothes with me to go to the gym after work and before my meeting tonight at work.

Praying in Color

At work we are offering a study of the book Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God by Sybil MacBeth. I decided to take it. A benefit of working in a church...I loved it. We wrote God's name (whatever we call God) in the middle...then we wrote names of people, situations, etc around it. We doodled around the names as we prayed about them. It was an enjoyable experience. As I read the book I'll let you know what I think.

Keeping at it...

So I've been a member of the "Y" for about a week. I've been three times so far two last week and once this week. Each time I've gone for 45 minutes on the Cross Trainer (Elliptical). And the best part...I'm not sore afterwords.

I have my weight machine orientation next Monday evening so I'm looking forward to adding weights to my workouts.

I admit last Thursday I bailed because I had a late night at work...I was tired...I was hungry...and frankly working out was the last thing I wanted to do. But I missed it...this is good. I need to miss working out. On the weekends I plan on not working out because I'm more active anyway but if we make it there it is gravy.

As far as eating we are doing better. We are not following a set program we are just eating healthier. We are:

• Watching portions (I'm only fixing what we will eat)
  
• Watching types of foods (More lean meats, more vegetables, less bread, less starches, whole grain, etc.)
  
• Watching how I cook (Baking, Broiling, Pan Searing, etc)
• Watching going out to eat (I've been cooking at home more)
• Watching portions at restaurants (When we go out I leave food on my plate or eat half)

I need to get to Fresh Market and Trader Joe's sometime soon to do some grocery shopping but that will probably wait until the weekend.