Busy day all around...

I had a full day yesterday...I started out with a workout before work...spent 25 minutes on the elliptical. Then, I worked a full day...and also went for 2 power walks outside during the day since I was constantly looking for an excuse to be outside in the sun. Then after work, I went to the Y with my mentee to workout for a little bit. We went on the treadmill and the bikes...and played around with the weights a little bit. She seemed to have a really good time. When I got home, I immediately made dinner because I was STARVING! And then I was out the door again...I had to pick up a replacement part for my computer at my dad's...and then go to the store to pick up some items to make brownies. Yep, I came home...and whipped up a batch of brownies to take to work with me. Today is Administrative Professionals Day, so I wanted to do something nice for the support staff...who keep us sane at work. The brownies are yummy good...and it's 10am and the pan is almost gone, so I think it went over well. Then, I made my lunch for tomorrow...and watched a little of Hell's Kitchen (complete guilty pleasure) before heading to bed.

I think my mentee had a good time working out at the Y. I hadn't been there in so long. I let my membership go a few months back...because I just wasn't using it and I have enough workout equipment at home. It was nice to have all those machines to choose from though. The mentoring program has a deal with the Y, so I can go there with my mentee for free...and so I think we'll go at least a couple times a month. I like that my mentee wants to do active things. She mentioned that she liked hiking...so, I'll plan to do some of that when the weather is right for it. The local girl scouts have horse back riding too...and I think they have a whole course on it. I can remember doing it as a kid. You learn how to clean/brush the horse, how to put on their saddles, how to mount them, how to feed them, the correct way to ride, etc. I can remember loving that when I was a kid. I am not sure if you need to be a Girl Scout to do it, but I am definitely going to look into it. My mentee seems to be game for just about anything...so, I am going to enjoy doing some active things with her..especially in the spring and summer.

Weigh-In: June 4, 2007

Hey everybody...I haven't done a weekly weigh-in/pudge report in a few weeks. I started thinking a lot more about fitness since completing the Relay for Life, so I am definitely going to make sure that my focus is where it needs to be.

First let's get to the business at hand...the numbers. I weighed in this morning and the scale said:

This week's loss: 2 lbs.
Total loss: 4 lbs.

So, it isn't earth shattering, but I will take it. I just want the scale to slowly move in the right direction. I am hopeful that that trend will continue.

Finishing the Relay for Life really taught me a couple of things. I had written a few weeks back that even though I am heavier than I have been in a while, I still feel healthy. This event really confirmed that for me...cause I was able to walk and walk and walk. I am proud of my cardio endurance...yes I know, I am talking about walking here, but walking approximately 30 miles. And I was also happy that it didn't kill my feet. My feet hurt the next morning, but once I rested them and got back up, they really felt okay.

I am also really looking forward to my roommate starting the night shift portion of her job. She is currently in training, which is during the day...but soon she will be working the midshift. I'm not excited because I won't see her...well kind of...I am excited because I can start my Power 90 workouts again. I love those...they kick my ass, but I love them none the less. I also know that I get really focused when I do those workouts. I haven't really been able to do them since I moved in with my roomie because I just don't feel comfy doing those kind of workouts in front of people (unless it is a mass workout class and we are all sweating and dying).

Speaking of mass working out...I haven't gone to the Y in over a month...maybe closer to 2. I think I am going to cancel my membership, especially since I can workout so much more at home now. And if I want to go on one day, I can always buy a day pass. It just doesn't make sense for me to keep paying if I am not going to use it. This saddens me some, but it also saddens me to see a service I am paying for and not using.

My goals this week:

1. Keep drinking 100 oz. of water a day.
2. Walk at least 10,000 steps each day.
3. Plan out all my meals in the morning...knowing what I am going to have for dinner each night.
4. No eating out.
5. Go to the Y and cancel the account.

Alright, that's about all that I have fitness related right now. I guess it means...back to work for Shelley.

Weigh-In: Week Who Knows?

Hey y'all....I didn't weigh in at all last week, cause well...bigger things were on my mind. And, I also ate a lot more food than one should, out a lot more, etc. I am not beating myself up at all for that, but I am going to make changes. I know that to live a long life...I need to continue living healthy...continue working out...continue eating healthy foods, etc. It's important...and I know it was something my mom was really proud of.

I stepped on the scale this morning...and I didn't lose anything, but I didn't gain either. I am right back where I started. I am going to continue with my walking challenges...looking to get at least 10,000 steps each day. I am also going to track my food...and stop eating out. I am going to continue exercising...and get my butt back to the good ol' YMCA.

It's all baby steps....baby steps...to a healthier me. I gained some weight in the last 6 months....and I want it off, but in all honesty, I feel pretty gosh darn healthy. I just need to make sure I continue feeling this way.

stuff with a side of stuff

I got a little bit of a bloody nose when I got to work this morning...eww...gross. eww.

Oooh...and I changed my mind about what I am giving up for Lent. I decided to change it up and not give up the same thing I always give up. As I said in another post...I usually give up the candy and pizza. I am going to watch how much candy and pizza I eat...but I am not going to give it up like other years. The thing I am going to give up...is those gosh darn slushies that I buy at the local Cumby's. I have been eating up a storm of them. One...they are gigantic...and only cost 75 cents. And two...they are yummy and cold. I have been having at least a couple, if not more, a week. SO...for Lent...I am not drinking the yummy frosty goodness which is better known as a Slushie!

And...as for food and exercise. I did pretty good yesterday. I got home and ran for 40 minutes on my elliptical. I also had a snack later in the day at work...so I wasn't as hungry when I went home. And...I had a pretty simple dinner. I did have a little more than I planned for dessert, but nothing that is going to break the bank. I was happy to be working out again...even if it at home and not at the gym. I think I plan on working out at home again tonight too...and working up to going back to the gym next week.

That's about it...for my boring, mundane update for the day!

how much are we talking about here?

Hey y'all...I have had a couple people email me and ask what I mean by a little pocket change when I am talking about payperpost.com. In case you missed it in my previous posts, PPP is a site that pays you for blog marketing for other companies and products. You get paid a little bit of money for giving feedback about other sites and products.

Anyways...people have emailed and asked me how much I am actually making and being a full disclosure kind of gal, I thought I would answer. I joined PPP and was able to actively post on February 13, 2007...so that means I have been active for 10 days and in those 10 days I have made $89.00. I had completed posts worth $5, $6, $8, $10, $15, etc. I don't tend to get the big money posts (like posts worth $125 or anything like that) because I have a smaller blog and because my blog is hosted on blogspot.com...but I still am able to post about things that interest me and that make me a little bit of money.

I know I could be making more if I posted about everything on their site, but I am still only posting about products or sites that I find interesting. There are some posts on there about payday loans or mortgages or online dating and those things just don't interest me or I don't support them...so I can imagine you will never see a post from me about that.

The next question is...what do I plan on doing with the money? Well...my first motivation is to make enough money to cover my monthly gym membership. It costs $37 dollars a month, so I definitely accomplished that this month. And for any money left over...I am putting it away in savings for either a computer or a nice vacation. I quit my second job in January...because I didn't like the late hours and how it was effecting my social life, etc. I hope to use any PPP monies I have to build up my savings so that I can splurge and buy something nice.

I figure that $89 for ten days isn't bad at all...especially since it has taken only a smidge of effort. It's money for the gym and a little more.

Anyone else out there doing PPP? What do you plan on using the money for?

2007: Week 5 Weigh-In

Hey everyone....it's Sunday, so it is officially weigh in day. I was nervous about this week because I didn't go to the Y at all. For part of the week...I didn't feel all that well and then for the rest, I was either recovering or just being lazy and using recovering as an excuse. Next week...I will be going to the Y...because I didn't join just to have money sucked out of my pocket.

So, here are the results:





Whoo hoo...given the crap, I lost a pound. Now the sad truth is that if I head back to my parents' house and watch the big ol' football game with them...I will probably gain that pound back. There was a news story where they said that people tend to eat over 1200 calories while watching the game. I don't plan to be that bad, but there will probably be a lot of snacking. Oh well...more reason to go to the Y next week...A LOT!

And I feel really rested...I took a nap last night about 4pm. I didn't fall asleep until 5:30 or so...woke up about 8pm...ate a grapefruit, was still tired...and fluttered back asleep off and on between 8 and 10...and then fell asleep for good. It wouldn't be shocking that I woke up off and on since about 4am. My body was rested...but my mind said...god lord, it's 4am! I ended up waking up at about 7:30am for good...and watched a crap movie on Lifetime (find something else to watch at 7:30 in the morning on a Sunday...I dare you!)

2007: Week 4 Weigh-In

Hey y'all....I was hoping for a loss this week since I started working out at the YMCA. I worked out three times this week...and did pretty well when I was there. I worked out on the elliptical and the bike..and sometimes jogged around the track. I have to go to the store and get a pair of earphones so I can listen to music or the news while I am there. I like it there...and I am glad I joined. I know I need to sign up to see the trainer and get the weights and stuff set up.

The low down for weight loss is:





That's right folks...I didn't lose and I didn't gain. I'll take it...but I shouldn't take for too much longer. I need to start seeing the scale moving in the right direction. This weekend...I didn't do a lot. I planned on working out, but I just didn't get to it. My roommate was sick...and sick in a bad way...so I ended up not doing a lot except watching TV and seeing if she needed anything (gingerale, juice, popsicles). I am going to be better this week...I swear!

Here are my fitness goals for this week:

1. Drink 100 oz. of water everyday.
2. Continue to eat only raw foods until dinner time.
3. Workout at the YMCA at least three times this week.
4. Workout two times at home in my rusty trusty apartment.
5. Workout at least one day out of the weekend: Saturday or Sunday
6. Sign up to meet with the trainer at the Y and go over the weight machines.

There ya go....on to week 5!

friday morn' ramblings...

Hey y'all....happy friday!

I don't think I posted much since Wednesday...and I forgot to mention that Wednesday afternoon I went back to the dentist. It wasn't as horrible as I was anticipating...except the huge bill I will now be having to pay. Plus, I still have one more appointment to fix a few cavities on the other side. The funny part...my appointment was at 3pm and I didn't get in until 3:30pm or so...and didn't get out until about 4:30pmish...and when I left...I WAS STARVING! So...my mouth was numb and I was afraid to eat...but I was starving and desperately wanted to eat. I ended up getting a takeout veggie burger and just eating it very carefully.

And yesterday...I worked out at the YMCA again. I spent close to 2 hours there and got a pretty good sweat on. I did a 10 minute warm up walk...did 40 minutes on the elliptical...10-15 minute walk/job on the indoor track and then 20 minutes on the bike. I was glad I went...because I almost didn't. I was going to skip working out because my work meeting went long, etc...but my friend sent me a text message saying she would meet me at the gym. I am glad she did because it was the motivation I needed to get my butt to the gym. It's one of the nice things about having other people working out with you...it keeps you motivated.

I was dead to the world tired last night though...I came home, made dinner, eat that up nicely, went to the grocery store and came home. By 8:30pm or so...I was exhausted. I ended up going to bed a little after 10pm...but I felt like a zombie for the last hour I was awake. Phew...

And this morning...just in case you all were wondering...it is a balmy -7 degrees out. Brrrr! My car made the most vile noise when I started her up this morning. She was thinking..."come on! You have to be kidding me!" I was a good kid and let the car warm up for about 15 minutes before I headed into work.

Brrr...again!

Thursday Thirteen #17

Thirteen Things about Fitness in Shelley's Life! 1. I just joined the YMCA...and I plan on using it. I am not wasting $37 dollars each and every month! 2. I love the Y's step classes and plan on signing up in the spring session. 3. I am paying myself $1 for each hour that I spend at the Y....as a way to make sure that I go and to reward myself for doing so. 4. I am working on eating a raw food diet. 5. I can no way eat raw 100% of the time...at least right now. I only eat raw up until dinner time. 6. The only downside...I get hungrier than I used to eating raw. By the time I leave work I am starving. 7. I think it is because the foods I eat now are so much easier to break down. 8. I have started to plan a snack for right after work, so I don't eat myself out of house and home. 9. I did find the one day I spent a lot of time at the Y...I didn't overeat at all. That is definitely something to remember. 10. I still love my elliptical..I haven't abandoned her. I still use it when I can't get to the Y. 11. I want to try to Couch to 5K program again...I have tried it twice before and always quit to go to another fitness routine. Since the Y has an indoor track, I think I should give it another go. 12. I still have 35 pounds I want to lose...and don't like that I spent November and December gaining weight. 13. However, I am very proud of my fitness level and that I didn't DIE when I stepped on the elliptical machine at the Y for the first time. I am overweight, but I am still healthier than I was before I started all this. That's something that I carry onto when I struggle or get frustrated.

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First Day at the Y....

I went to the Y yesterday....when I got out of work, I attempted to talk myself out of it. I started saying that I could just use my elliptical in my apartment, etc...and not have to drive ALL THE WAY OVER THERE. Please...I just got over myself and got into the car. The Y is about 10 minutes away...and I paid to have a membership there, so I am GOING TO USE IT!

I spent an hour and a half there...and then came home and made some soup for dinner. It was nice to have the choice for machines...instead of a tape or my elliptical. I did a 15 minute warm up on the track...did 40 minutes on the elliptical, 20 minutes on the bike and then another 15 minute cooldown on the track.

Since I am paying myself the horrible rate of one dollar for every hour I am at the gym...I will be putting $1.50 into my fitness savings fund. I won't put the money there until the end of the month, but it is nice to know that I am working out...and also saving to get myself something nice down the road.

Tonight...I am planning on working out in my apartment...just a quick 30-40 minutes on the elliptical, but don't worry...I will be seeing that gym again soon!

2007: Week 3 Weigh-In

I was not looking forward to stepping on the scale this morning....because I knew it was either not going to move at all...or move in the wrong direction. I knew that I ate out too much...drank too many slushies...and also didn't workout like I needed to.

So, here is the bad news....




That's right...I gained two pounds. I don't think it is a true gain and that it will come back off this week, but then again...I also don't think my 2 lb loss the week before was a true loss.

The good news is...I joined the Y yesterday...and I am going to be going. There is no way I am paying close to 40 bucks a month for something and then not using it....I am WAY too cheap for that. I am going to start with just using the machines and then sign up for the workout classes in the spring....once I have gotten my fitness level and endurance up to where I want it to be.

In many ways...I consider this week to truly be Week 1...where everything hopefully will come together.

Oops...

I forgot to do my weigh-in this morning when I woke up...I didn't remember until it was about 10am and I was already drinking water and eating my breakfast. I will weigh in tomorrow...I promise! I am worried about this week's weigh in though...I haven't eaten all that well...went out to dinner with friends (and had the best veggie burger at Applebees...mmmm)...and also haven't worked out like I am supposed to.

But...there is a fix to much of that. My goals for this week are specific to address those:

1. Start writing down everything I am eating again. It's too easy to eat too much ice cream or chips or what not...if I don't have to write it down. So...back to writing it down.

2. Plan a snack for after work...since for the past few weeks I have left work starving and therefore just graving on bad food when I get home. I think having a protein shake is the perfect idea.

3. I am going the Y this afternoon...when I leave to drop off a movie at the video store and put my check in the bank. If I pay for it...trust me, I will use it. I initially said I was going to pay myself $25 for getting my 10-15 hours in at the Y, but I have a new plan. Here it is: I am paying myself $1 for every hour that I spend at the YMCA. So...the more time I spend there...the more money I make. It's not a lot of money...but if I work out 10 hours a week...that's $40 a month...and that's $480 a year. It's definitely enough money to do something fun with it.

Those are my goals for the week....and I am excited to get truly back on track. Since Jan 1st...I have only been doing this half-hearted and I know I need to do it better than that.