Thanksgiving Update: Family, Food and Fitness

So, this past week was Thanksgiving and all. I had a nice holiday. My dad, brother and I went to spend the holiday with my cousin, her family, my aunt and uncle in Massachusetts. I hadn't seen that side of the family in a couple years, so it was nice to catch up...and just spend time chit chatting with them. Plus, my cousin's husband is a tremendous cook...so, it was a great meal. I could have eaten for days and still had yummy food to eat.

I made a couscous dish to share. I knew they had plenty of food and said we didn't need to bring anything, but I thought I should bring something. Plus, being a vegetarian and all...I always feel somewhat like a pain in the arse when going to big meals, etc...so bringing a dish makes it seem less so. The dish was couscous, sweet potato chunks, scallions, thyme and dried cranberries. I thought it was a pretty good dish...and healthy too.

And I haven't written or talked about fitness and health all that much on the blog lately. I gained a smidge of weight during the end of the summer, so I knew it was time to take it off. I was kind of stressed out and figured that chips and ice cream were a great solution. My pants were getting a little tight and all. 10 lbs or so...needed to be removed from my arse. I hadn't been good about going to the gym...and was just eating whatever I wanted to. Not the best plan, eh? So...for a few weeks...I've been watching what is going in my mouth and I have been going to the gym a few times per week.

So far...so good. This week...where most people gorge themselves with Thanksgiving food and gain weight, I stepped on the scale this Monday morning...and I am happy to report, I lost 3 lbs. I definitely kicked up the workouts...and enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner, but didn't go overboard and didn't bring ANY leftovers home.

AWESOMESAUCE. That is all.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is November 21st....it's would be my mom's 63rd birthday...truly the most amazing person who has ever touched my life.



Miss you Mom!

Crack of Dawn at the YMCA

Yeppers. I actually did it. I set my alarm this morning for 5 am...was up and at the gym by 5:30am-ish. I worked out for about 45 minutes and then headed home for a quick shower, quick breakfast and on to work for the day.

When I set my alarm last night...as it was 11pm and the idea of getting up at 5am was not leaving me all warm and fuzzy inside. I seriously thought I would change my mind, hit the snooze and get up at my usual time. I considered it...oh, I seriously considered it, but in the end...I decided to follow through with my plan.

I don't really enjoy working out in the wee hours of the morning. Not because it is hard to get out of bed (and there is that), but because I always feel like the workout is harder on my body in the morning. It's like my body does not like to move with purpose before 9am...at the earliest. When I am on the elliptical at 5:45am...every movement seems hard. I notice every minute I am on that thing...and wonder when the time will be up. When I workout in the later in the day....time often flies by without me knowing and suddenly...workout done.

So, if working out at the crack of dawn is such a drain on poor lil' Shelley...why am I doing it? Well...because lately, I have not been able to get myself to go to the gym after work. Last year, I was a rock star at it...I would leave work, change into my workout clothes and head right over to the gym. I'd rock the elliptical and then head home for a nice, healthy dinner. It was easy.

But lately...not so much. I've been getting my workout clothes together. Putting them in my car. Bringing them to work. Working all day long. Then, I leave work...and with one excuse of another, drive home. Bring workout clothes back inside. Don't workout. Eat ice cream or something along those lines. The excuses were either..."I'm exhausted" or "I'm starving" or "I got out of work late." All complete malarkey. I just didn't want to go...so, I didn't. Instead, I hit Stewart's on the way home and bought some chips...you know, something I actually wanted to do.

This is insanity for me...since I actually *really* like working out. But alas...I haven't been able to convince my body of that lately.

So...mornings it is. I watch the early morning local news anyways. I might as well watch it while running away on the elliptical...verses watching it while snuggled in my warm cozy bed.

Wednesday...the YMCA and I meet again.

Back to the Gym I Go!

So, I did what needed to be done. I rejoined the gym today. I was able to use my work's account for a few months...and that was enjoyable, but that account no longer exists. I am not sure when it went away...since let's be honest, I haven't been to the gym in about a month. I know. Bad Shelley. Bad Shelley.

I went over to the lovely YMCA and gave them a chunk load of my money. Now...I have no excuse to not get my booty over to the gym, since I am in fact paying for it. I used to workout in the evenings...on my way home from work. I'd head there on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays after getting out of work...and then go on Saturday or Sunday...whenever it worked better.

Lately though..I just haven't had the motivation to workout when getting out of work. I leave work...am usually a hungry monster...it's already starting to get dark. So, instead of going to the gym...I end up just driving home.

So, I am gonna try something for a week...and see if it works. I am going to try to get up an hour earlier and go to the gym before work. I am not sure my body is going to get out of bed an hour early and then be willing to run on an elliptical, but well....I am going to give it a shot.

There is a cardio class at the gym at 5:15am, but well....I'm not THAT crazy.

Wish me luck. I'm battling my growing ass...and I MUST WIN!!!