SFC week 4

What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?

Well, truthfully, not much. I did write my thank you cards (one from last week and this weeks). Last weeks card was to Katie who sent me a “duh winning” sticker; this weeks was to my BFF (seriously, we’ve been BFF’s since 1979) who made me the bestest quilt ever!!! I’ll have to post a picture some other time…but it is…the best…quilt…EVER!!!!

Ok, anyhow, back to what I’ve done this week to help achieve my goals….I did lose a pound and a half, so that counts. Of course I inadvertently ate a 37 point meal on Friday night which sent me into a tizzy thinking I’d pay for it later in more ways than one (the 37 points whipped out my “weekly points” and then some). Thankfully I’ve been able to work out and balance out the points. Of course, that was before last nights baseball game which sent me over in points again (stupid cold weather and darn vendor selling hot chocolate!!). As of this morning I was down about a pound, which yes is good…however; that was before the fries at lunch. I’m going to work out tonight to help re-balance the points but it has been tough going this week with food.

And I’ve not been diligently taking a deep breathe prior to arriving home. Which has lead to some heated conflicting moments. The hubs and I got into a lil tiff yesterday. I sometimes feel at a loss and a bit overwhelmed with the whole marriage thing. Nothing is black and white; there’s a lot of grey areas. A lot of compromising. A lot of feeling like I give give give but not always rec’ing. A lot of praying. A LOT OF PRAYING. There is no manual for relationships/marriages.

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

Ummmmm…..seriously…not a damn thing. It’s been too busy and crazy and overwhelming.

Fill in the blanks:

"Giving to others comes naturally to me." I will give (mentally, physically, emotionally) until there’s nothing left to give, then I find more to give, if I feel it will help someone else. Sometimes I wonder if I am trying to make up for something bad I did in the past but maybe I’m just a giver. Sometimes though-I feel stretched to the limit, as if I have nothing left to give. That’s when I know it’s time for a pedicure!

"Taking compliments, feeling adequate, feeling confident, feeling worth a shit does not come naturally to me."

I had every intention of typing “I wish running came naturally to me” but right now “I wish being at peace with myself came naturally to me.”

Fun Question: What is your favourite Easter candy? Are you allowing yourself some this year?

Peeps are my favorite. No, I did not allow myself to have any…it isn’t worth the points!

And positive picture of the week is:

ABC ME!

Ok...it's my turn to ABC...

A~Age: 40


B~ Bed Size: Queen, that no only do I have to share with the hubs but the dog too! :O)~

C~Chore you hate: probably easier to state which I DON"T hate-and that's laundry...

D~Dogs: One-Fredbird (yes you read that right-the mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals shares my dogs name!)
E~ Eat: today-too friggin much! but normally I eat every few hours
F~Favorite Color: BRIGHT colors...lime green is my absolute fave!
G~Gold or Silver: Doesn't really matter -

H~Height: medium height...although my legs are longer then my upper body..weird!

I~Instruments you play: None ...never...my attention span is not long enough to learn!

J~Job Title: Office Assistant (aka baby sitter..serisously)

K~Kids: none...and this can sometimes be a sore subject. I think I would have been a real good mom!
L~Live: Just east of the Land of the Red Birds!!!!!

M~Married to a sweet guy.

N~Nickname: Tori-my real name is Victoria; my grandpa used to call me cheyshonya (sp) meaning dark eyes, and I've been known to be called smiley (but not because I'm always smiling!!). Oh and one of the guys this week started to call me slim! yeah
O~Overnight Hospital Stays: nope
P~Pet Peeve: gum snappers, knuckle poppers, snot snufflers
Q~Quote from a Movie: "Merry Christmas...shitters full!"
R~Right or Left Handed: Right

S~Sweet Tooth - oh yeah...LOVE LOVE LOVE me some chocolate
T~Time you wake up: Depends - without an alarm-8ish
U~Unusual skill - don't have one :)

V~Vegetable you Dislike: sweet potatoes
W~What Makes You Late: Piss poor planning...over sleeping

X~X-rays You’ve had Done: Spine, skull, teeth, ankle

Y~Yummy Food you Make: ww cupcakes (diet soda and cake mix).

Z~Zoo Animal Favorite: Penquins! I like how they walk!

SFC start week 3

What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?

This was a very off week for working on my goals. I jogged once that I remember (it was Saturday-and boy was it a fabolous run! I jogged 3 miles in 40 mins and ran walked 4 1/2 more!), been watching my points but not sure if I will be at a loss this week. NO date night and girls night got cancelled at the last minute. I forgot to write my thank you note but remembered to take a deep breathe prior to arriving home!

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

Let me see--I took myself for a jog outside on Saturday (it was like the best run ever!! no training wheels (ie support runner by my side)-just me and the great cold outdoors! I also invested in a red spibelt for my phone, id, and keys. Fits snug against my hips, doesn't seem to rise, and no bounce! I also took a leave day on Wednesday to plant flowers, bath the dog, and just do things around the house that I've not been able to do.

Are your SFC goals your ultimate goals or steps to your ultimate goals? Do you find it easier to set big goals or do you like making mini-goals?

The goals I set for SFC are goals that will lead me to an ultimate goal. I'd like to be a more patient, healthier, happier person. I'm working on steps to get me there!

What are some of your ultimate goals, things on your bucket list?

My bucket list consists of traveling to other places (Ireland, Italy, Hawaii, Florida for spring training, and Memphis at Christmas time), writing for profit, skydiving, parasailing, and maybe even a tri-athelon (sp?).

Fun Question: If you could achieve only one more thing in your life, what would it be?

Holy shit...pardon the french...only one more thing what would it be? Honestly I've been thinking about this since I read it a few days back...and draw a blank. There are so many things left undone, so many things to chose from. I think it would be pretty cool to run/walk from St. Louis to Chicago for charity...in my mom's honor. She died from cancer almost 16 years ago-she was a great woman! Hell, if I could be half the woman she was my life would be complete!
 
Fun picture of the week is one of my mom.  This is one of my favorite pictures of her.  This last week, when no one was around (especially no women) I swear I smelled my mom's perfume. It brought me some peace!
 

SFC start of week 2

What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?

Well, I wrote my first Thank you note in a long time!! It was fun!
 

I've also remembered to take a deep breathe before getting home...  

And we had a date night this weekend!!! The first in a very long time that didn't involve inviting other family members (although we did meet up with another couple for some Italian food-yummy)...

So, as you can see-it's been productive!

Oh and the best part of my week---I ran a 5k and beat my previous time!! see previous post.

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

mmm...well I bought me some of these....for my tootsies

and I painted my nails to match my new socks....

yeah...that's hot pink

Is your mindset future-oriented or living in the now? How does this impact you when you are working towards a goal?

I'm a future-oriented individual...I don't think I know how to live in the now....When I work towards to something it's always with the thought "how does this help the end result."

Is there someone in your {real} life that inspires you to strive for the best?

There is no one particular person in my "real" life that inspires me to strive for the best...I find inspiration from many and try to learn from them on how I can be better at whatever it is that I am trying to accomplish.

Fun Question of the Week: Do you read blogs on the individual websites or via Google Reader?

LMAO...how do I know that difference? I guess google reader...but I honestly don't know! I go to my little "worth the read" section, click on the blog I wish to read and it pops up in another window!

Thank you everyone! the race was a success!!!

Thank you everyone for your well wishes and words of encouragement!  Race day turned out to be great (even though rain threatened to disrupt the morning and the medals we were to rec never arrived!) and I even have a new PR (gulp)!  Tiina from One Crazy Penquin (great blogger by the way-go ahead-check her out!) was my on site personal cheerleader and let me set the pace. As per the past, I started pretty fast (this is a habit I picked up in Jr. High). I haven't learned to start slow nor have I learned to "control" my breathing.  What's kind of funny is that I assume you are to run at a pace that feels natural and the pace we were going after leaving the start seemed "natural" (until of course my breathing gets out of whack and makes me think I'm going to hyperventilate). Anyhow, we jogged/ran the first mile with little problem; unless you count all the folks we had to weave around (yikers). We saw individuals of all ages, sizes, and shapes-even one with a cane!! There were also some military folks there representing!! Anyhow, we completed the first mile in just over 10 mins (I think 10.39) and proceeded to do the walk jog routine for the rest of the 5k. Poor girl-she's a runner runner and is training for a half marathon but let me call the shots.  She was such a wonderful support for this wanna be runner-like I said, I felt like I had my very own cheerleader by my side!! We finished in 38 mins 22 secs (according to her watch) and 38 mins 41 secs according to Go STL site. Either way, blew my last 5k time (42 mins 20 secs) out of the water!! That's almost 5 mins!! Woot Woot

Have a very great Sunday and talk to you all soon!!! And thanks again!

Butterflies in my tummy!

I'm not going to lie..I've got butterflies in my tummy!! It isn't like I've not done one before but this will be the first 5k I aim to run the whole thing of! And a blogger buddy is supposed to be meeting up with me to run it with me! I hope I can hang! I don't want to look like a goob!! This big dawg wants off the porch!!!

A Call to my advisors and confidants...

Your help/opinions is needed and appreciated.  As you all know...times are tough; money is tight. Not just for me but for everyone. They are talking about temp lay offs until the government agrees on a budget (my organization relies on funding); which got me to thinking about my budget.  And looking at my budget I notice I need to "curb" some spending (this is where you all come in). I'm wondering if I shouldn't switch my weight watchers program from the "monthly pass" to "online e tools" only. Doing so would shave 28 bucks a month (which in one sense isn't much of a saving but in another every penny counts). I know that I need weight watchers, and I love weight watchers e tools, but I question needing the meetings. Sure I go to weigh in every Tuesday, sure I go to the meetings most of the time (I've been doing weight watchers for 28 weeks and have gone 26 of those weeks to the meetings) but I'm pretty sure I'm to the point where I can use other avenues for meeting support (like you and like the few folks that have joined ww online after seeing how good I am doing on ww). But that scale--can I live without THEIR scale? I'm 45 pounds from goal; which could take 3 months could take 6 months.  At which time the meetings and weigh in would be free...and the online tools would be 12.95 a mo. For some reason I am conflicted...I don't really know why...but I think it has to do more with the scale there than the meetings. But/and my scale works just fine. I use it all the time to gage how I'm doing.  I'm just saying.

I'm looking at other things to cut but there really isn't much that isn't a neccessity. However, I will be cutting any corners I can (eating out is definetly out as is paying for extravaggant races-anything more than $40 and clothes).

Shew, I feel better now. I've been considering this minor change for over a week...but I need outside input.

Spring Fever week one

What are your goals for the Spring Fever Challenge? (These goals are posted at the right side through the entire challenge, which ends June 12th)

1.  35 mins jogging 3 times a week (end result is to do 3 miles in the 35 mins)
2. Before arriving home-stop at the corner near the house, take a deep breath, then proceed home so that I may meet my spouse with a lightened load and a smile on my face ALWAYS.
3. Be at goal weight by June 12th (goal weight is 135 to 140lbs)
4. Establish date night twice a month with the hubs (cannot be in the same week) and one girls night a month
5. Write one thank you note a week and send to recipient.

Why did you choose them?

these are close to my heart...

What is your plan of action to make them happen?

I have no idea and will need plenty of help....

What does this challenge mean to you?

It means I will stay focused...it means I have something worth looking forward to...keeps me sharp as a tack (ha ha)...

Fun Question of the Week: Let's get to know each other! What is something most people (er... fellow bloggers) don't know about you?

Oh boy I'm struggling on this one...I really have no "fun" tidbits. I'm just a poor AF Brat from the midwest trying to do get things right!

Fun picture of the week is from a time when I was frightened but fearless....didn't matter where I'd been; just mattered that I was going somewhere else!

Interesting few weeks...

Hello there!  I've been pretty busy at work these last few weeks that I haven't felt like making time to write. I've also not had much to write about (unless of course I've got a set of questions to answer for a challenge). So tonight I'm gonna wing it...whatever comes to brain is what I'll write.

I guess I should start with my weigh in this last Tuesday. Tuesday was my first weigh in in 27 weeks that I have NOT lost any weight. I can't really pin point FOR SURE what the issue was but I've got a few speculations.  Normally I save 10 of my 49 weekly points for the "just in case I didn't calculate my food correctly".  Since in the last few weeks I've "cranked" up (at least for my standards) my work outs (earning between 21 and 27 ww points per week) I've been using all my weekly points but saving my ALL of my activity points. Earning ww points isn't really that easy (yet) so I didn't/don't know if I should have been using some of my activity points (week b4 last I lost 2.8 lbs and before that 1.8 without using any of my activity).  But last weekend (b4 my Tuesday weight in) I also drank some alcohol (which are basically empty/wasted points), which I don't normally do (but I'd like to occasionally) so last week I really didn't feel I should use my activity points. You know, just in case. So the zero change in weight kind of threw me for a loop...cuz I didn't know if it was because I hadn't used any of my 27 points or if my Friday "party" (chicken wings and rum and cokes) were under-calucated even though I wrote it all down and I'm sure I calculated correctly. Oh well--whatever! I'm cool. And I really am--I didn't even cry when the scale didn't budge!

Another thing on my mind this week (my how things come flying out when you think you don't have anything to talk about) is the fact that someone from beachbody emailed me "wanting to ask some questions about my blog". I knew it was a solicitation email but I responded "what are your questions?" The individual responded with "I see you have a weight/fitness blog would you be interested (I don't think those were the actual words but I've since deleted the email) in posting about our products/website?" That torked me off. I'm just a blogger...I'm just looking to type away at the key board and possibly build some friendships along the way. I didnt' establish a blog in hopes of making money from it (or to help others looking to make money). I'm selfish--this blog is about me and the journey I've chosen to take and about others who have chosen similar journeys. So in the future, those selling products and looking to post an ad on my blog-NO THANK YOU.

Alright..I've got to run for a bit. The pugs and I are having movie night after the hubs goes to bed. On the list of what to watch is Hunt to Kill (Steve Austin-who is a retired wrestler by the way); Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood); and The Tooth Fairy (Dwayne *sigh* "The Rock" Johnson-who is returning to wrestling). I have no idea the heck is wrong with me but I am almost obsessed with wrestling these days! I haven't looked at wrestling in like 20 years, never cared for it (OMG such terrible acting and fake fighting), but now I want to watch it like RIGHT THIS MINUTE!! The hubs thinks its funny-I think I might be losing it! Ehhh-whatever-I'm not hurting anyone! :O)

Before I go, here is a fun photo for you. The St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day 2011 was yesterday. It's become a tradition with the hubs and I to go...and I picked me up a new hat....

don't I look kinda cute (with my forced smile)....honestly, I look so much better in person!!