Almost a year later....Playing Catch Up!

Ok so clearly I'm not the best at keeping up with my blog, at all, but I'm going to give it another chance. Dust off the keyboard, update the look of my blog (after many attempts!) and get to typing! 

The last time I made a new entry was August of 2012!!!! Wow! That's when I was running 4-5 days a week and according to my blog I made it to Week 8, when in reality I made it to Week 12 and just didn't document it on here. I then took a break because we had gone home for a couple of weeks and lets face it, when you go on vacation your not going to keep up with your workout schedule. I went to the gym like twice while I was home! Any-who then we came back home and it was hard to get myself motivated to do it the 5 days a week so I would do it maybe 2 times and throw in Jillian Michaels dvd every so often. So I was working out a total of MAYBE 3 days a week! Slacker I know!! Then the holidays started and again lets face it your diet (or lack there of) gets thrown out the window and your workout routine (or lack there of) definitely starts to disappear. Mine completely vanished! So I ended 2012 with getting squishy and lazy, awesome duo! 

2013

January  I told myself I HAD to get back on track with my diet and exercise, obviously a very popular New Years Resolution, that often fails after about a week! Well I was doing Jillian Michaels 3-days a week and then at the end of January I started adding in a run on the treadmill. 

February I decided to do more running and stopped doing Jillian Michaels. I was running for longer periods of time to reach a 5 mile run each time. 

March I had my best run (keep in mind I'm NOT a fast runner and never claimed to be!) 5.45 miles in 63 minutes. To me that was GREAT! But then I started to hurt while I was running. My right hip was in a great deal of pain and it would take a day to recover from it. So then I started running for only 30 (or more) minutes to get a run of 2-3 miles in. I went to the doctor at the end of March to get my hip checked out and they referred me to a Physical Therapist. My physical therapy appointment wasn't for another week so I got on the treadmill a couple more times, but only to WALK at the highest incline, but quickly found out that even hurt! So I stopped working out until I went to the Physical Therapist. I go to my first appointment for the consultation where they said my hips are uneven (slightly) and that it seems I have Bursitis in the hip (there is a medical term, but I figured I'd keep it simple:

Hip bursitis is a common problem that causes pain over the outside of the upper thigh. A bursa is a fluid filled sac that allows smooth motion between two uneven surfaces. For example, in the hip, a bursa rests between the bony prominence over the outside of the hip (the greater trochanter) and the firm tendon that passed over this bone. When the bursal sac becomes inflamed, each time the tendon has to move over the bone, pain results. Because patients with hip bursitis move this tendon with each step, hip bursitis symptoms can be quite painful.

So after they figured out what the problem was they told me I would need Physical Therapy at least 2 days a week for 5 weeks! During that time I'm not allowed to workout at home, the only exercise I was going to get was the hour in a half I was there for 5 weeks. Once I started the physical therapy I noticed in the beginning there were a few exercises I would do that was a lot harder because of my hip and as the weeks went on they got easier and didn't hurt as bad! By the end I was about 90-95% myself again. But my last day of Physical Therapy ended on a Thursday and then that following Monday (May 6th) I was getting a TONSILLECTOMY...pause for a moment for the ever so popular *Gasp, "Wow, at your age its?!" or "I'd rather go through childbirth again" or "I'd rather have another C-section" yes these are the types of responses I would get when they heard I was getting my tonsils removed! So obviously I was terrified! But it had to be done!!! But that didn't give me time from the end of my Physical Therapy to my surgery date to really see if I could run again, I was nervous to try it in all honesty! So I used the excuse that my dad and his wife (and they brought my adorable Nephew Luke) were coming that Saturday-Tuesday to be there before, during and after my surgery. 

T-DAY aka Tonsillectomy day: May 6, 2013! I had to be there by 7:30 a.m. and obviously the typical prior to surgeries no eating or drinking after midnight the night before was in place. I stopped eating and drinking at 6 p.m. For my "last meal" we got a variety of bbq: chopped, brisket, ribs and sides since we had 4 adults and 2 kids it was perfect! Then my dad and Kimberly surprised me with a small birthday cake (since I would be recovering over my birthday and Mothers Day--what a way to celebrate right? ha!). So that was a nice surprise! :) Anyway so Eric drove me to the Surgical Center that morning and we waited for close to an hour in the lounge before they even brought me back to get prepped. When they do surgeries they do kids first and then adults. I had to go in the back alone.....that's when the nerves started to kick in that this was actually happening! So as I'm laying on the hospital bed in my ugly hospital gown (they wouldn't let me wear my own hospital gown...yes I have my own hospital gown that was purchased for when Emma was born-it wasn't worn until AFTER Emma was born so calm down haha). Then there was like 3 different nurses coming and prepping me and asking me all sorts of questions and one of them gave me some good meds to help calm my nerves that started working INSTANTLY it was like a wave! Anyway than its kind of blur after that. I remember them taking me into the O.R. and the doctor telling me to count back from 10 and I honestly don't even remember saying "10" haha! Next thing I knew I was in a recovery "room" I put that in quotes because the only thing separating me from the next person was a curtain and it was wide open in the front. I know I was asking for my husband and they kept telling me they will get in him in a few minutes. Then the rest of it is sort of blur, but Eric took a couple short videos of me where I'm talking about Santa Clause, Elves, North Pole and being in a Meadow Ohhh and I repeatedly asked if I could bring the Anesthesiologist home, not because he was cute because I don't even remember what he/she looked like, but because he gave me the good meds HAHA! Sooo yeah apparently I was entertaining! I also thanked everyone lots of times and kept telling them to tell the doc I said Thanks (my southern hospitality comes out even when I'm "under" haha). So during recovery Eric was asking me if I was on the nice list (yes), Emma on the nice list ("she's always on the nice list") and if Juno was on the nice list ("no") haha poor Juno! He also asked me about the elves and I told him they were my height so he of course says "so they were short" I said "no! they are my height" ha. But yeah so a North Pole visit and Meadow filled with flowers (I think sunflowers) is where I went while I was under! 

So I get home and basically go directly to the bedroom and sleep! The first day was nothing but sleep, I don't even remember if I drank anything. Eric was so good about keeping up with the meds so I'm sure I got all the meds that day and he even set an alarm in the middle of the night to give me my meds!! What an awesome hubby I have :) The second day I still did a lot of sleeping, but was more alert, but they made me stay in the bedroom. During this time Daddy and Kimberly have been getting wonderful one-on-one time with both their grand-babies Emma and Luke who are 3 months a part (exactly!) here are a few pictures from their visit:

I was soooooooo very glad and appreciate them coming to help out with Emma while I was recovering! I was able to actually go to the beach with them and go for the evening stroll :) 

As far as recovery goes, yes it IS painful, but honestly the worst of it was not as bad as I was thinking so that was AWESOME! I'm not saying it was easy because it definitely is NOT! But it wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. Perhaps I just worked myself up for it to be the worst and it was easier then I had pictured. Anyway I would not have been able to recover as easily as I did and still am 3 weeks later if it wasn't for my wonderful husband! He kept up with the meds during the first two weeks and I'm soooooo very grateful he did! It wasn't until about the middle of week 2 where I started venturing out of the soft food and onto "sharper" foods ha!!! I did drive for the first time a week after my surgery to my check-up appointment. Where they told me I was recovering well and that yes the headaches and earaches are normal!! But obviously super annoying! After not really eating or doing much activity for 2 weeks it really makes you weak and even the littlest household chore exhausts you such as laundry! Or Tuesday when I took Emma back to school for the first time in 2 weeks and after I dropped her off I decided to try a little light grocery shopping. I was completely exhausted before I even got back home and knew I still had to unload and put the groceries away and go back at noon to pick Emma up from school! SHEEEEWWW it was rough! But I did it and fed Emma and got her ready for her nap. I was not only mentally and physically exhausted, but my throat was hurting real bad too because I didn't want to take any of my meds while I knew I was going to be driving. Soooo once Emma was down for her nap I took (or what I thought) my pain meds. Like I said Eric had been in charge of my meds and so the pain meds I thought I took was actually the nausea meds so it didn't help me with the pain! Oh well Eric was home shortly after and got me straight! Told me to relax and don't do anything else ha! 

Well fast forward a bit......

This past Saturday (May 18, 2013) was our last full day with Eric before he left Sunday morning and won't be home for a month! His boat doesn't typically leave for this long, at most 3 days, so clearly I am not as strong for an entire month of him being away! So on Saturday we decided to go to the local Farmer's Market. This was our first time going to this Farmer's Market. It was much better than the one Emma and I went to a few months back that was just 10 minutes away!! Definitely worth the drive to the beach side of Panama City. Below are just a few pictures from that day...

YUM! Look at all that FRESH LOCAL produce!!!! Oh and some Kettle Corn haha!

Emma was watching the local fish guy filet some amberjack (I believe)

Then of course a mama and daughter photo :)

So May 19, 2013 Eric leaves the house around 6:30 a.m. and won't be back until the end of June sometime. Below is the pictures I captured of Emma giving her daddy some kisses before he left :( 

Backing it up a bit to last week, I received a belated birthday present in the mail from my sister:

Yes some of you may think this is a MEAN gift or not your typical present one gives to another, but I was SUPER EXCITED!!!! I even posted on my facebook: "Can I just say I have the BEST sister EVER!!! Or meanest however you decide to take this, I'm obviously going positive here!! This just came in the mail as a belated bday present!! I'm sooooo excited to end my recovery so I can start this!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SISTER!"

Sooooooooo here I am basically done with my recovery and getting ready to start this new, yes "insane" adventure! It also came with a meal plan to help lose weight, which is obviously what I'm going for! So I'm going to attempt that too! I told Eric before he left that my plan was to do eat healthier (which is easier when he's not home because he doesn't eat fruits or veggies...yes I just said that!) and do the insanity workout, which is 6 days a week!!!! This is what my calendar looks like until July:

Today is Day 1, which is going to be simple because I just have to do the "Fit Test" to see how many I can do in a minute of each of the 8 exercises listed below. Then I do this every other Monday. Just so I can see how I've progressed. Below is a copy of the "Fit Test"

Tomorrow morning after I drop Emma off at Preschool is when I will begin the first dvd!!!! I'm hoping to document my journey on my blog. I won't be updating the blog everyday, but hopefully at least once a week. IF by the end of of the 2 months I've lost a significant amount of weight and inches I MIGHT post my actual before and after numbers, but I am a woman sooooo don't get your hopes up haha!! :)

Stay tuned.........

Week 8: Complete! A few new challenges!

Well Week 8 is OVER! The beginning of the week was a bit exhausting, but I pushed through. I also started 2 new challenges this week. I decided to up my speed on a few of my runs this week, but only for 9-10 minutes out of the 30 minutes. But I also started a challenge that a friend of mine posted on her facebook "100 squats a day". I figured I could do that, how hard could it be....YEAH! ha! I have tweaked the challenge slightly as I am only doing the 100 squats on the days I run, so at least 500 squats a week will be happening :) You don't have to do all your squats at once if you don't want to or aren't able to do them. You can break it up throughout the day if you would like. I choose to do my squats after I run just to get them out of the way. Also I want to continue to point out that after my run on the treadmill, I continue to do leg work, weights and abdominal exercises. I spend another 20 minutes of exercising after the treadmill. But I just don't write it down anymore. I mix it up each day.

WEEK 8: August 6, 2012 - August 12, 2012
Mon. 6: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364.4 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-31 minutes: run (4mph) obviously I didn't start my faster speed today!
31-32 minute: walk (3mph)

Tue. 7: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.250 miles = 387.8 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-15 minutes: run (4mph)
15-21 minutes: run (5mph) ohhhhh it felt as though I have never ever ran before!
21-23 minutes: run (4mph) just to catch my breath for a minute
23-26 minutes: run (5mph) yeah that was tough.
26-31 minutes: run (4mph)
31-32 minute: walk (3mph) ahhhh breathe!
*started the 100 squats a day challenge. I didn't find out about this challenge until right before bed, so I busted out my 100 next to my bed! :)

Wed. 8: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.266 miles = 390.4 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-11 minutes: run (5mph) breathe....breathe!!
11-31 minutes: run (4mph)
31-32 minutes: walk (3mph)
*100 squats

Thu. 9: REST
Eric's only full day home this week, so I opted no workout! :)

Fri. 10: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.266 miles = 390.4 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-11 minutes: run (5mph)
11-31 minutes: run (4mph)
31-32 minutes: walk (3mph)
*100 squats

Sat. 11: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364.4 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-31 minutes: run (4mph)
31-32 minutes: walk (3mph)
*100 squats

Sun. 12: REST

Side note: When my hubby came home Wednesday he said he noticed me looking skinnier :) He had been gone a couple of days so after not seeing me for a couple of days he could tell the difference. I still don't see a difference. So the saying after 4 weeks I should see a difference and by 12 weeks the rest of the world should see a difference, well I feel I am going to be part of the "rest of the world", let's hope! Don't get me wrong I notice my legs are tighter and getting muscle, but that's about all I notice, so it was nice having the hubster say he noticed :) Made me feel good! 

 YES :) Ok if you insist! 

Week 7: Completed :)

Well I completed Week 7--it was a rough one! I was fighting my energy level and on one of the days my lack of energy defeated me :(

WEEK 7: July 30, 2012 - August 5, 2012
M 30: Treadmill 52 minutes (WOO HOO!) = 3.433 miles = 598 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-51 minutes: run (4mph) yes I'm still only at 4mph
51-52 minutes: walk (3mph)
Tu 31: Treadmill 32 minutes = 2.1 miles =  364.4 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-31 minutes: run (4mph)
31-32 minute: walk (3mph)
W 1: Treadmill 52 minutes = 3.433 miles = 598 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-51 minutes: run (4mph) this run was a lot harder than Monday's run.
51-52 minute: walk (3mph)
Th 2: Treadmill 20 minutes = 1.291 miles = 221.5 calories
I was DEFEATED this day :( I had zero energy and just couldn't run. It took all I could to even run what I did.
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-18.5 minutes: run (4mph)
18.5-20 minutes: walk (3mph)
F 3: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364.4 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-31 minutes: run (4mph)
*I still didn't have energy, but this time I drank a V8 energy drink 2 energy bites and it seemed to help me!
31-32 minutes: walk (3mph)
Sa 4: REST
Su 5: REST

I weighed and measured myself on Sunday July 29th and I had lost 1.8lbs last week (a total of 29lbs lost total) and I have lost a total of 3 inches overall since I started running 7 weeks ago. It may not sound like a lot, but 3 inches is still 3 inches LOST! :) So I'm pleased! 

Thank you to everyone who are supporting me and giving me such sweet words :) 

Week 5 & 6: COMPLETED

Ok so I didn't get to my post last week, obviously. I know I posted part of Week 5, so you will see a repeat here. Also just wanted to repeat myself that after my treadmill workout I continue to exercise with 5-8 minute ab exercises (1 minute each) and I also do some lunges, squats, calf raises, back exercises all while using 5lb weights (the weights I just started using during the 5th week).

WEEK 5: July 16, 2012 - July 22, 2012
M 16: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.233 mi = 385.2 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-6 minute: run (5mph)
6-16 minute: run (4mph)
16-19 minute: run (5mph)
19-31 minute: run (4mph)
31-32 minute: walk (3mph-oh thank heavens!)
*I tried to increase my speed and I just don't think I'm quite there yet. I'm going to continue with MY run speed, which is slow, but still at a running speed for me.
Tu 17: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-31 minute: run (4mph)
31-31 minute: walk (3mph)
W 18: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories
Same as above (you will see this for the remainder of Week 5 & 6)
Th 19: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories
Same as above
F 20: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories
Sa 21: REST
Su 22: REST

My Playlist for this week: don't judge!!! Ha! This is what works for me. Also know that I don't listen to ALL these songs, just half (mainly the first half). 

WEEK 6: July 23, 2012 - July 29, 2012
M 23: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories
0-1 minute: walk (3mph)
1-31 minute: run (4mph)
31-32 minute: walk (3mph)

Tu 24: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories

Same as above

W 25: REST: Emma woke up sick, doctor appointment in the am

Th 26: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories

Same as above

F 27: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories

Same as above

Sa 28: Treadmill: 32 minutes = 2.1 miles = 364 calories

Same as above--also let me add that I woke up feeling like a truck ran me over, but I knew if I didn't complete my 5 days a week of running I would feel guilty! I'm so glad I completed it! To help me get through with the final run of this week I listened to a different playlist and it SO helped me out! 

Su 29: REST

This was my playlist for Saturday's run (only). I switched it up to a band that a good friend of mine and her husband introduced me to this SC band! I also saw them in perform live at a concert back home (during the Seafood Festival for all you local readers). But I haven't listened to them in AWHILE! I'm so glad I did! 

My Goal is to get to Week 12! :) 

As most of you know I joined Weight Watchers over a year ago. I definitely recommend it for anyone who is struggling to lose weight and needs something to help them. I joined July 17, 2011 and currently I have lost around 30 pounds. But I have just recently cancelled my account. I cancelled because I feel I have learned a lot from this past year to maintain my weight loss journey. I will continue to weigh myself every Sunday morning and I will continue to count (semi) points. I eat a lot of the same stuff and so I know what foods are how many points. For example I know the cake ball I just ate is worth 5 points, but yes I ate it anyway! I also cancelled WW because I knew with my new running routine I was going to be gaining muscle and I didn't feel like continuing to watch my weight go back up on my phone (WW app) and me pay for it! SOOOOO yeah. But YES I do know that you gain weight muscle before the weight starts to shed too. I will be patient (hopefully, ha). Tomorrow I will be weighing AND measuring myself! I haven't measured myself since the day I started my new running routine, sooooooooooo WISH ME LUCK :) 

Online "Journal": I HATE(D) Running!

Let me first start off by saying I am NOT a Runner, I am not one to come to for advice about running or anything healthy or exercise related---sheeewww now that's out of the way let me get started.

Ok so I can not use "I still have baby weight to shed" any longer because 1. My child is 3 months away of turning TWO (still can't believe that!) and 2. I only gained 30 pounds during my pregnancy and lost it all within the first 2 months, yes haters hate. BUT let me inform you that I was NOT in a healthy state  once I became pregnant, I mean I wasn't on my death bed, but I just wasn't at a healthy weight for my height (5ft and...NOTHING, just 5ft!).

My husband bought me a treadmill (at my request) during my pregnancy so I could at least walk on it in the comfort of my own home. I did ok with the walking for about ummm 2 months and then I reached the exhaustion point in the pregnancy. So by the time I would get home from work it was all I could do to make supper and sit my pregnant butt down. Moving forward, once Emma was born I tried again with the "I'm going to start an exercise routine" bit la-di-dah, yeah another 2 months goes by and then I stopped. I would get on it every once in awhile, but wasn't anything. A few months ago I was trying to tell my husband we should sell the treadmill online (craigslist) or something because it was just collecting dust and taking up space in our guest room. I'm glad he didn't listen to me.

My blog is now going to be my online journal to hopefully keep me on track and to let others (whoever cares) keep up with my progress as well. One of my good friends started doing this recently on her blog, so I've stolen the idea :) Thanks Lauren! :) Most of my post's will just be what I've done on the treadmill and nothing more. I may add a few things here and there, but you'll just have to keep checking it out to see.

One year ago (today-17th) I joined Weight Watchers, online. The first week I lost 7.2 pounds, 1.4lbs, 1lb, 2.2lb, 1lb, etc it was different every week. Some weeks I didn't lose anything and then some weeks I would lose 2lbs (I loved those weeks!) But as of lately I've just been stuck around 28-30lbs loss (yes that is my grand total of pounds lost thus far!). I am very happy to have shed the weight of a 2 year old girl! But I would love to see more results--well duh if I want to see more results CLEARLY I have to push harder! So 5 weeks ago I began to dust off my treadmill and attempt something I HATE(D) doing--RUNNING!

So to get started I had to get myself organized (yes I'm weird that way!). I bought a journal to keep track of my workout "routine" and misc exercise stuff. The first section of my workout is my actual journal that I write what I've completed. I do NOT write it down until I've actually completed the workout. The second tab in the notebook is where I have printed out random exercises I can do after I finish the treadmill. In the pockets (yes pockets, because this journal is cool like that, ha) I have my "Progress Form, Weight and Inches" recorded. For this I don't write on every week I'm going to only do this once a month (weight watchers I track my weight every Sunday morning). Also in the pocket I took some ohhhhh so lovely "before" pictures you know the generic standing on top of the toilet taking pictures of yourself from all the attractive views, HA! Don't worry I will not GROSS any of you out and post them on this blog, UNLESS my progress becomes me looking like Jennifer Anniston afterwards (don't hold your breath!). This is what I've done to get started, you may have other things you want to do, but like I said I am not an expert!

My daughter Emma is also very easy to entertain while I do my workouts in the morning. Thank heavens for dvd player and Shrek (don't judge me!). I'm a stay-at-home mom and my daughter is with me 24/7 so if I have to put her in her high chair with some snacks and toys and a movie on to keep her occupied while I workout so be it :) Besides I enjoy Emma being in there with me while I'm on the treadmill-there has been one workout over the past 5 weeks that she wasn't in there (hubster was home that morning) and I just felt like something wasn't right. 

OKKKKKK now on to what I've been doing over the past 5 weeks. In the beginning of my new exercise routine I switched up my workouts from running and doing the Jillian Michaels workout, then I finally just stuck with the running. Oh and can I just add that my "running" is more like either fast pace walk or light jog for others, but I'm still very new at this and will eventually get to a faster speed, but for now its what I'm doing. 

WEEK 1: June 18, 2012-June 24, 2012

M 18: Jillian Michaels dvd

T 19: Jillian Michaels dvd

W 20: Rest

Th 21: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.667 miles = 250.9 calories

0-5 min: walk (3mph)

5-10 min: run (4mph--yes this is my running speed, don't judge!)

10-15 min: walk (3mph)

15-20 min: run (4mph--felt like I was going to die...LAME hahaha)

20-30 min: walk (3mph)

After the treadmill I do some misc workouts and stretches. I try to do 5-8 minute ab workout (1 min for each ab exercise) and then attempt to do one of the three leg pyramid exercises. I don't always follow the leg pyramid exactly, but I do a variation. 

F 22: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.750 mi = 276 calories

0-5 min: walk (3mph)

5-15 min: run (4mph) last minutes were rough!

15-20 min: walk (3mph)

20-25 min: run (4mph)

25-30 min: walk (3mph)

After treadmill: 5 minute abs and misc exercises

Sa 23: J.Michaels

Su 24: Rest

WEEK 2: June 25, 2012-July 1, 2012

M 25: Treadmill 30 minutes: 1.783 miles = 286 calories

0-3 min: walk (3mph)

3-13 min: run (4mph)

13-18 min: walk 

18-25 min: run

25-30 min: walk

After treadmill: 5 min abs and misc exercises

T 26: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.783 miles = 286 calories

Same schedule as above

W 27: Rest--3 year wedding anniversary :)

Th 28: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.783 miles = 286 calories

Same schedule as above

F 29: Rest

Sa 30: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.783 miles = 286 calories

Su 1: Rest

WEEK 3: July 2, 2012- July 8, 2012

M 2: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.816 miles = 296 calories

0-3 min: walk (3mph)

3-15 min: run (4mph)

15-20 min: walk

20-27 min: run

27-30 min: walk

*I stopped writing down my after treadmill workout, but I still continue to do abs and misc exercises

Tu 3: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.816 miles = 296 calories

0-3 min: walk (3mph)

3-15 min: run (4mph)

15-18 min: walk

18-25 min: run

25-30 min: walk

*abs and misc exercises 

W 4: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.866 miles = 311 calories

0-3 min: walk (3mph)

3-18 min: run (4mph)

18-20 min: walk

20-27 min: run

27-30 min: walk

*abs and misc exercises

Th 5: Treadmill 30 minutes: 1.883 miles = 316 calories

0-3 min: walk (3mph)

3-23 min: run (4mph) woo hoo just completed a goal of running for 20 minutes straight!

23-24 min: walk

24-27 min: run

27-30 min: walk

*abs and misc exercises

F 6: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.883 miles = 316 calories

Same schedule as above

Sa 7: Rest

Su 8: Rest

WEEK 4: July 9, 2012- July 15, 2012

M 9: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 1.916 miles = 325 calories

0-3 min: walk (3mph)

3-28 min: run (4mph)

28-30 min: walk 

*abs and misc exercises

Tu 10: Treadmill: 30 minutes: 2.033 miles = 349 calories

0-2 min: walk (3mph)

2-7 min: run (5mph) yes I upped my speed by 1mph and about DIED!!!

7-29 min: run (4mph) I didn't stop running, I just lowered my speed back to 4--that was hard to continue running, but I did it!

*abs and misc exercises

29-30 min: walk (3mph)

W 11: Treadmill: 32 minutes: 2.1 miles = 364.4 calories

0-1 min: walk (3mph)

1-31 min: run (4mph)

31-32 min: walk 

*abs and misc exercises

Th 12: Treadmill: 32 minutes: 2.1 miles = 364.4 calories

Same schedule as above

F 13: Treadmill: 32 minutes: 2.1 miles = 364.4 calories

Same schedule as above

Sa 14: Rest

Su 15: Rest

WEEK 5: July 16, 2012- July 22, 2012

M 16: Treadmill: 32 minutes: 2.233 miles = 385.2 calories

0-1 min: walk (3mph)

1-6 min: run (5mph) ROUGH

6-16 min: run (4mph)

16-19 min: run (5mph) VERY ROUGH!

19-31 min: run (4mph)

31-32 min: walk

*abs and misc exercises 

Tu 17: Treadmill: 32 minutes: 2.1 miles = 364 calories

0-1 min: walk (3mph)

1-31 min: run (4mph)

31-32 min: walk 

I figured I would perfect my 30 minute run before I try to up my speed. I will get there though! 

*abs and misc exercises. 

I find it a lot easier to workout between 8-9am. My energy level is higher at that time of day. Also have discovered if I don't workout after I feed Emma and myself breakfast than I won't do it! I like my new routine of running M-F and having the weekends as my rest days. I can now say that I am not as much of a hater to running as I was when I first started. I'm still not a huge fan and don't look forward to my time on the treadmill, but I don't hate it, so I say that is progress!!! 

Like I said earlier my future post's will not be as long as this one. I might only update it at the end of each week instead of posting everyday. But don't hold me to that :) If any runners or beginner runners want to comment or give me tips please feel free to do so!!! :) Good luck to any of my fellow friends who are trying to become runners like me. I have to give major credit to runners who complete marathons because its all I can do right now to run on my treadmill for 30 minutes, I can't imagine running OUTSIDE hahahaha! 

To end this novel of mine: This is what I look at while I'm running--It definitely helps me repeat this in my head while running! 

Keep on running :)

Wedding Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

I have FINALLY created a Wedding Photo Book! Thanks to Shutterfly :) It took only what 2 years ha. Well I have spent quite a bit of hours creating this book with all the details. I hope it turns out good and I can't wait for it to come in the mail! Please ENJOY :)

Catch Up

Well sorry for the LONG disappearance for any of my followers. Since my last post we have left VA (for good) and as of July we have been living in Panama City, FL. I enjoy the city very much and love our new house and neighbors! As of right now I'm not a fan of Eric's station only because it takes up so much of his time--Emma and I never see him! But he is fully enjoying the new station and all the new things that go a long with it. He's so use to small stations so its a great change for him! So I'm very happy for him. Emma has started doing some new tricks since we've been here--she is now CRAWLING all over the place! She is pulling herself up in her crib and on the tv stand, she hesitates with the coffee table only because she keeps bumping her head on it and so I think she is scared of it. Her personality is changing and she loves making different facial expressions. She still loves any and all food we feed her. She also loves her daddy's sweet tea!!! We definitely miss our families and hate the distance between FL and NC. I'm so use to being able to go home once a month or have people come visit us for a weekend, but its a lot harder to do that with a 12 hour drive or flight now. I have been homesick like all the time, more so when Eric is at work and its just me and Emma. But now that time is passing by I'm getting a little more use to it (not that I will ever fully be use to the distance). Our neighbors have been absolutely wonderful!!! We have been very lucky with such great neighbors in VA and now FL. I sure hope this pattern keeps up on all our moves! I'm a people person and love entertaining so its great when it can be with neighbors! Our neighborhood is very kid friendly. Everyone on our street has kids. So I'm looking forward to all the fun holidays such as Halloween, Christmas and Easter!

Now I'm getting ready to brag a little about myself :) ha! I joined Weight Watchers on July 17th and since that day I have lost 11.8 pounds YAY ME! Most people complain about weight watchers and say things like "let the starving begin" but I have not felt like I've had to starve myself on this diet! I am NOT a diet person, never have been. But this counting points is a lot easier (for me anyway). I do not have to go without certain foods at all. I am also one who loves to eat fruit and vegetables so that has definitely helped me out with this because almost all fruits and most vegetables are 0 points so that helps with any hunger points throughout the day. I have also fallen in love with the "Smart Ones" frozen meals. They are Weight Watcher friendly and Chelsea friendly :) Since most of the time I have to have dinner alone it helps to just pop in a GOOD frozen dinner, especially when I'm having to take care of a baby girl too! I haven't ventured too much in the cooking weight watcher meals from my cookbook yet, but I did make General Tso's Chicken with white rice and broccoli and that was a huge hit :)

So to end this post I've uploaded a video of Emma. I was lucky enough to catch her VERY FIRST time crawling on video! Eric wasn't home (he was in Louisiana) so he didn't get to see her in person, but he was able to see the video. She crawled for the first time on August 3, 2011!! Let me tell you she is a PRO now, no wobbling crawl anymore. She is focused when she crawls, she sees something and just GOES, most of the time its toward the tv or here lately its over by the front door to play with the blinds (lord help me haha). But I hope you all enjoy her video :) I hope the video works ha!!!!

Addictions!!!!

No I'm not needing to be admitted to AA or anything like that! But I do have a slight MOVIE addiction!

There is nothing I enjoy more than sitting on my nice cozy couch and snuggle up to my hubby and daughter and watching a movie! Although this addiction started back in high school ha! I believe my first movie I bought was "The Ring" and technically I didn't physically buy it because I wasn't old enough to buy a Rated R movie, so one of my friends boyfriend (at the time) bought it for me (I of course gave him the money) so back in 2002.

I'm pretty sure there were a couple movies bought before then too but for some reason this movie sticks out in my mind. This does not include all the vhs movies me and my sister had growing up...Disney! :) Which of course I've added to Emma's collection but in DVD's not vhs!

But back to my addiction, I could seriously open up my own Redbox and rent my movies out for a $1 a day and I believe I hold more of a collection than Redbox does.

But I have to warn you there are quite a few chick flicks....what can I say I'm a CHICK :) Eric has his collection mixed in with my movies too, but what's the saying once you get married "what's mine is yours" so we have quite a bit of a movie selection between us.

We counted the movies yesterday for inventory purposes for our upcoming move and we are at 257 movies! I should clarify that when my husband counted I know he didn't open up the TV collection and count each of those discs that are in one box so there are physically more discs than that but whatever. Also you'll see in one of the pictures on the floor there is a big black dvd/cd holder...I'm not sure what the count is on that but I know its over 100 possibly 200 but there are dvd's in there too..we did not count all those either! Haha I told you its an addiction! But I can't help it! :)

So we got this as one of our wedding gifts and it holds all of our movies...well not all but the majority of them!

Top Shelf (not because they are our "top" movies) they just couldn't fit in the movie boxes and are in no particular order

Second shelf--most of the movies are in Alphabetical order! There might be a few out of place


3rd Shelf

Bottom Shelf--also holds our newest collection of Blue Ray movies!


These are not on a shelf and they were neatly stacked on top of the speaker until the collection started growing more and more--these are Emma's movies! :) She's got a mixture of regular and Blue Ray movies!


Now on to the TV collections!

As most of you know I'm a HUGE "Friends" fan! I basically know everything there is to know about the show! So it only makes sense that I own all the episodes!!

These TV collections are located in our bedroom--only because we didn't have room in the living room haha! They consist of all the Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Glee, Son's of Anarchy, King of Queens, The League and of course the big pretty pink case of Sex and the City!


So I hope you all have enjoyed my collection! How many movies do you own?! :)

First's!

The month of May has been a BUSY one! We went to NC from the 13th-24th and visited with family and friends. The weather had called for rain most of the trip BUT luckily it was pretty instead. We didn't get a chance to take Emma out in the boat or even to the beach while we were home, but she still enjoyed her time there :)

Before we left Emma experienced a few "southern first's" she was always seeing her daddy drinking out of a big blue cup and she finally got curious enough and we let her try Sweet Tea for the first time! She enjoyed it, so now every time she sees him drinking out of any kind of cup she instantly reaches up towards it ha! The other thing she tried and LOVES is Watermelon! We put a piece of seedless watermelon into a mesh container thing (not sure what its called) and she was just sucking the juices and oh my goodness if you try to take it away from her, even if your trying to add more watermelon she throws a hissy fit! It's crazy how much she loves a piece of watermelon.

her trying sweet tea/eating watermelon


While we were home Emma took a stroll in her new stroller for the first time and we took her down front street. It was incredibly hot that day, so of course to cool her off we stopped into the General Store where we got some ice cream (cookie dough) and I gave Emma her first taste of the General Store :) Definitely a right of passage....if you are from Carteret County you have to get ice cream from the General Store. Below is a picture of her striking a pose in her stroller...I love this little girl more than words can express!

We took Emma to the Aquarium for the first time while we were home. Papa B came to visit for the day so he got to go with us. Emma seemed to enjoy bits and pieces of the aquarium, but I think some of the tanks were too dark for her to really see inside and see the fish. But it was still a fun experience and we also did the nature walk, where she ended up falling asleep. She did enjoy being able to touch some of the fish sculptures (you are allowed to touch).

This picture below was pretty cool (in person) the ground would do a ripple effect when you walked over it and she seemed to enjoy this, of course the pictures don't do its justice.


Haha this picture of her mouth is the best I could get because every time I try to stick my finger in there she just licks my finger. But I'm trying to take a picture of her first tooth! Its barely showing but it is there! :) Its on the bottom in the front. She hasn't been cranky like you hear of most babies when they are teething. She's been acting like she normally does so perhaps we have lucked out again!

Emma's first Memorial weekend and we finally took her to the beach!!!! We went with our neighbor's to a local beach here in VA called "Pub Beach". It was a nice beach with lots of families :) There is a place where you could order food and drinks and they also have bands that play on Sundays. It was very hot that day we went, which was perfect beach weather! The water was cool and refreshing, but NOT to Emma! We put her in the water for the first time and she cried! We kept bringing her back thinking she was just in shock of all that was around her, but she still cried every time. Finally I put her in the water with me facing towards the beach and she seemed content longer than she had been in the water. The thing is she loves a bath so I really thought she'd enjoy the beach, but it just wasn't her thing. I'm guessing its the temperature of the water. Maybe when we go home for the entire month of June the water will be warmer for her. I know once we move to FL the water is going to be like bath water!






She did love playing on the beach and consuming LOTS of sand! Every time I tried to pull her hand away from her mouth she would get upset! But all in all it was such a great experience! I'm so glad we got to share it with some great friends. We are truly going to miss our neighbors once we move :(




So speaking of moving and "first's" we had been looking and looking for places to rent in FL and we finally crunched some number's and realized it's cheaper for us to BUY a place then to rent one. We contacted the VA Loan people to see how much we could get a loan for and then they basically did the rest for us! They found us a realtor who found us a few places to look. Eric ended up having to drive to FL our last weekend, but it was well worth it because he found us a place that is just perfect! It is located in a great neighborhood that has lots of other military families who also have lots of kids everywhere. Eric met the neighbor's on both sides of the house. The house is a 2 story, fenced in backyard, front porch, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath house built in 2005..it is perfect for our first time buying a house! I can't wait to actually see it in person! We put an offer on the house and a few days later the seller's accepted the offer! They first told us we could close by June 30th, but do to the military HAP (homeowners assistance program) that the sellers are doing it might take longer so they pushed the closing to say on or before July 31st! Our realtor seems to think that it could still close by June 30th, but I'm not going to get my hopes up! Eric's first day at his new job is July 8th so in an ideal world it would be PERFECT to move in by July 1st, but I just don't see that happening. Our lender says they are ready on their end. Anyway we are extremely excited!!!!!!!

I'm sure I missed mentioning something, but I figured this was a good start :) OHHH yeah Emma bug is now saying "dada" she doesn't say it all the time, but she does say it! As many times that I've said "mama" to her somehow "dada" came out haha! Either way its super cute!

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Memorial Day Weekend!