I haven't updated in ages, so I figured I was due. This summer has been SO busy!! Yesterday was my last day of Summer I classes and on Monday I start 2 new classes for Summer II. I'm wondering what I was smoking when I decided to do this whole summer class thing. They're accelerated classes and you're expected to learn a week's worth of material in one class. Basic math tells you that's 3wks of material in 1wk. Mind you, I haven't been to college for...ohhhhhh...6 or 7yrs?? I know it could be much worse, so I'm just sucking it up and getting it done. By taking these summer classes, I know I'm getting my degree just a tad bit quicker. These next 2yrs are going to be so stressful~ while I'm going back to finish my Bachelor's, Jon is also going back to get his Master's. He was just accepted into Notre Dame and orientation starts next month! We figured we're basically going to be high-fiving each other out the door...

My eating and workouts are actually going really well. I'm almost afraid to talk about out it! lol I've had a thought bouncing around in my head for a couple weeks, but I'm not 100% committed to it yet, so I'll hold off on talking about it. It gets me excited, yet terrified all at the same time.

Heading out the door soon for my workout. I've missed keeping up with everyone! It seems my computer time the past couple months has really been cut down. I'm going to have to start scheduling an hour out of my day just to catch up. ;) I do have to mention though, that I've enjoyed reading about the competitors and how incredible everyone has been doing. Sundie~ you looked beautiful! A true champ. Congrats!!

Ok, ok, an update! :) Thanks for checking in on me Marijayde! I haven't been giving much attention to my blog....but I have been reading others'. I guess keeping up with my own has taken a back burner. I have so much I want to write about, but not a lot of time right now. I did want to check in and say HI and that yes I'm still alive and kickin. Workouts are going well, eating has been, uhhhh, so-so (but are improving, yay!), and everything else is going A-OKAY. School starts on May 19th so I'm trying to get everything ready for that. I'm super nervous but ready to get started. I can't believe I'm going to be a FT student again. I was on campus the other day and felt....so.....O-L-D. I mean I know I'm not, but sheesh, everyone I walked past looked about 15 (ok, so I know they were at least 18). I just feel like a totally different person since I was a freshman in college.

Anywho...the pics are from last Friday night. It was my friend Tammy's bday so we had a couple's night :) It was so good to get out with some great friends and have fun.
Don't ask me why I didn't fix the red eyes before posting...it must be the blue eyes b/c I always have the "devil eyes" in my pics.

My New Toy

Guess this means there are no longer any excuses to skip cardio???

The past couple of days weren't my best. I had been so "ON IT" for the few couple of weeks, so having these little times of weakness were really bothering me. After 2wks I was feeling much leaner, tighter, stronger, and my jeans were fitting so much more comfortable. What an awesome feeling! That was also 2wks straight without a cheat while drinking ALL of my water. I sit here and wonder what I could accomplish if I stuck to that for a long period of time! And why are some days soooo easy when others feel like such a struggle?

I had my cheat meal last Friday night when Jon & I finally had a date night. It was like a caged animal was released and I definitely ate more than what I would consider a free meal. I went to bed feeling crappy but woke up and had a great next day. Sunday came and I snuck one teeny tiny cheat which led to more little nibbles throughout the evening. Not good. I woke up Monday wanting to do well. I did great...until I ate about 6-8 mini chocolates from Aiden's leftover Easter candy. I headed to the gym and squeezed in extra cardio to try and compensate. Tuesday comes and I'm SURE this is going to be the day without a cheat. Hmmmm....more chocolate. WTF. I kept putting off the gym all day until I finally went around 6:30pm. I HATE going at night too, b/c it's so busy and I just want to be home relaxing. I did an hour on the elliptical to try and make up for my cheats. I felt sooo much better when I got home. Yet I wonder how much I'd be changing if I hadn't eaten the junk. Oh well, can't dwell on it, right?

Beka called this morning and it was exactly what I needed. I was feeling a lot of guilt over everything. I think my husband hasn't been happy with everything. He says I spend so much time at the gym, worrying about my diet, etc... I think he's either feeling left out, like I'm neglecting him, or maybe I really am being selfish? I don't know. The talk with Beka made me feel much better and I really do believe that I need to do this for me. I'm so much more confident and happy when I'm lean and in shape. On the other hand, I need to make sure he and Aiden know they're my #1 priority, too. I think I need to plan something special for them.

Sunday

Walked in the door around 4am....FEET ARE TIRED. Aiden was in bed with Jon (he had woken up at 1am with a fever) so I slept on the couch. That is NOT a good night's sleep, in my mind. Work was....OK. I made about $100 less than I expected. It wasn't until about 8pm that we all realized that it was Spring Break and we're not going to be nearly as busy as normal. Damn. Don't people realize they need to be giving ME their $$ while they're intoxicated? Sheesh. One week and it should be back to normal.

On the diet/fitness side of things, I'm doing really well. Better than in a LONG time. Next week is the start of week 4 and I'm feeling good about it. Week 3 had a bump in the road in terms of the diet, but I'm back on track. I've avoided ALL of the food at work, not one nibble, so I feel great about that. Although....I have been called, on numerous occasions, the HEALTH FREAK. Nice.

My knee has really been giving me problems, so I've been icing it, hoping it's going to heal up so I can kill the cardio once again. I absolutely HATE it when I'm on the treadmill and my legs aren't a BIT tired...I feel like I could run for hours...but my knee starts killing me so bad I have to stop and walk, or, limp. I'm trying to get set up with a new doctor so I can get this looked at. I guess I'm just worried he's going to tell me I'm just "sore" and it needs rest. WELL, this has been bothering me for several MONTHS, so it has to be something more.

Ok...off to get something done today! So far.........nuthin.

I need a massage

My whole body is aching. Don't get me wrong, for the most part, I'm LOVING this feeling. The part I'm having trouble with is my feet hurting so damn bad. Last night was my first full night working. Let me tell you that when I managed a pub (3yrs ago...pre-baby days), we were only open until 1:30am. Man- this bar is open until 3AM! WTH? Ok people, you do NOT need to be drinking that late. That is when you're supposed to be home drinking your own booze and passing out. Last night I looked over to my right and there was a man...oh, probably about 50yrs old or so....totally sleeping at his table. Head dropped into his chest, snoozin. Niiiiiice. Thankfully a server had already caught it and he was waiting on his ride. And, I do think this is & will be a fun job~ I mean hello, I get to see any sporting event on about 8 flat screens, I get to talk to a crapload of adults rather than toddlers, and I get to make pretty damn good money while doing it. HOWEVER- my feet HURT. BAD. And I wore my Nikes. Did I mention I woke up without a voice b/c I was constantly yelling over the band? Yeah, right now I sound like a man. It's great. So I got home around 3am, which actually isn't bad. Since it died down, I didn't have to close. They said normally if you have to close, you're there till past 4am. My God, I enjoy my sleep waaaaaaayyyy too much for that. I haven't done that crap since college. Ahhh well, the things you do to make some extra $$~ at least until we get some crap paid off! ;)

On the fitness front of things, my diet has been 100% on all week and it feels sooo good to say that. It's been so long since I've said that. I'm just anxiously awaiting my body to start looking like I'm feeling. I woke up feeling lean today and yesterday was my high carb day. I thought I'd feel like a puffer fish after that. Nope. :) Back to 3 more days of low carbin' it though... My workouts have gone really well. I'm doing so many exercises I've never done, or have rarely done, and I think my body is going "whaaaaaattttt?". This has GOT to kickstart some fat loss.

Alrighty, off to get the kiddo packed up and off to the gym :) TGIF!! Can't wait till Sunday for some MUCH NEEDED REST.

Day 2

Ok so I'm nearing the end of day 2. I haven't felt hungry at ALL, in exception of a bit this afternoon, but after chugging the needed H2O, I was good to go. I'm happy to say I've got my water consumption up to 1 1/2 gallons per day. Before, I was struggling to get in one gallon, so this is great. Of course I'm using up a roll of TP each day, but it's all good...

Jon was delayed a bit but should be home sometime tomorrow. I'm sooo excited to have him back in the house, but nervous about doing this around him. I KNOW I will do it, but the temptations will just be greater. His style of eating isn't going to change and I know there will be grumbles when he hears that we're having fish and veggies, yet again, for dinner. I'll throw in a baked potato for him, but I'm not planning to make too many meals different from mine. I know I will have to make some things for him that I can't have, but I'm not doing it every night, that's for sure. I can see him now....raiding the cupboards after dinner. ;)

Did I mention I've started a new job? It's only part-time...about 3 nights/wk, serving in a bar and grill nearby. I took the serving spot in hopes of working up to bartending. I wanted something where I could still stay home with Aiden during the day, and this was the quickest way to make the most money in the shortest amount of time. Now...I should mention they are about 10hr shifts lasting WAY past my usual bedtime, but I know the $$ will be worth it. I've heard most girls take home around $300/night on a Saturday night. Plus it's working around mostly older business professionals....it is in NO way a "club". They are open until 3am, which really sucks, but what can ya do. I'll be having lots of fresh grilled chicken and veggies while I'm there though...since that's about all they have that I can eat. Other than that I guess I'll have my own little stash of foods in the cooler that I can eat in a FLASH. I guess I'll look on the bright side. I'll be busting my ass for about 10hrs per shift- that has to up the calorie burn, right?