A year ago this weekend I walked and completed my first and only 5k.  It was a lot harder than I thought it would be, and a lot hotter.  There were so many hills, and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to finish had my best friend Rachel not agreed to do it with me.

At that time I had been working out regularly with a trainer and lost about 40 pounds.  I felt like I had finally found the right track.

A year later, I’ve gained back 25 of those pounds, haven’t seen the gym or Jillian in a month, and eat whatever I want.  I can blame the new job and its new hours.  I can blame a lot of the personal struggles I’ve had recently with family.  I can blame the fact that I’ve overextended myself with volunteer opportunities.  But really, the only blame lies with me.  

I’ve been lurking, reading tumblr almost every day, and I see people succeeding despite the hand that life deals them sometimes.  Not falling back on their excuses and hiding.

It’s been a rough and stressful few months.. Is this finally my breaking point?  My aha moment?  My wake-up call?

The alarm went off at 5am like it has been lately.  I rolled over and hit snooze.  I just didn’t have it in me.  I was so tired, like barely open my eyes, hit everything on the nightstand before getting to the alarm tired.  I stood Jillian up this morning.

I still maintained the rest of my goals.  I didn’t go out for any meals, and am still under my calories, even after dinner.  Had a great time at swim, too!

In other news, I had to run by PetSmart on the way home to buy a new cone for our dog Molly.  You may remember that she had surgery on her back in October.  During her sling-walking, she scraped one of her back feet and she won’t let it heal.  We’ve tried EVERYTHING.  Bitter tape, bitter spray, bandages, hot sauce, tape, and a cone.  Apparently, though the cone wasn’t the right size, so I went and got the BIGGEST ONE THEY HAD.  Poor thing, looks so pathetic.  It’s for her own good.  

Work is busy.  I’m currently working on Jersey Shore.  I’ve only seen one episode, but I feel like I should be watching it now.  After being so against it, I’m now working on it day in and day out.  Life is funny.

Ok.  My tired self is going to do the dinner dishes and hit the hay.  I don’t think Jillian takes too kindly to being stood up 2 days in a row.

• I need to get around to taking some before pics to compare to at the end of the shred.
• Made it to swim tonight. It was a big class, but lots of fun.
• Made Carbonara for dinner, and still have about 700 calories left.
• I’m tired.
• Another two-fer tomorrow.  I’m planning on doing the shred all 5 days this week, and maybe taking a break on the weekends.
• I make really good Carbonara.  A friend from Italy taught me, along with her lasagna.  It’s lethally good.
• I’m really, really tired.
• Hopefully heading to bed soon.  5:00am comes awfully early!

Done.

Feeling really good!  Now it’s the usual shower, breakfast, and work.

Swim tonight!

This is the first time I’ve made it, but man it was easy.

Ingredients

• 6 Trader Joe’s Frozen Chicken Tenderloins
• Half a bag of Trader Joe’s frozen broccoli florets
• Half a bag of Trader Joe’s Organic Foursome frozen veg
• Half a large sweet onion
• Whole bottle of Trader Joe’s Red Curry Sauce (I filled it with some water and shook it, adding that to the pot).

Dump everything into the crockpot and cook on low for 7 hours.  I stirred it about halfway through.

I doled it out into 3 servings, and according to Myfitnesspal (Follow me!  I’m Amybmid), it’s around 280-300 calories per serving.

I’ll be having the first serving on Tuesday, so I’ll report back on how good it is!

No shred again today.. I did, however, go get a hot stone massage.  Holy mama was that great.  I’m trying to use up my membership massages so I can cancel my membership, and that was worth the double-dip.

I did have the foresight to throw all the stuff into the crockpot for Thai Red Curry with chicken.  I now have lunch for 4 days this week! I had been dragging my feet on making it, as I planned on using a skillet.  The lightbulb went off on my way home from Trader Joe’s to put it in the crockpot.  I really need to use that thing more often, so if you have some great recipes, send them my way.

My plan for the week is as follows:

• Shred M-F in the morning before work.
• Swim Aerobics Mon, Tue, and Th
• Yard Sale sorting party for SOLID (moving and lifting heavy boxes for an hour or more)

I am going to try to go to swim aerobics on Saturday, but we’re also trying to get my stepdaughter this weekend.  Then it would depend on if the husband can get home in time for me to go.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, and here’s to a great week!!

No shred to report for yesterday, or today (yet).  I woke up with my visitor yesterday, and she’s not a pleasant visitor this go-round.

That’s not to say I didn’t do ANYTHING yesterday.  My company does a Volunteer day once a year, and yesterday was ours.  Our activity was painting a mural at a local high school, so I was on my feet, moving around, and standing on an incline for four hours painting.  My knees did not like me.  After that I came home, changed into some nice clothes, and drove down to MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) to give out a scholarship on behalf of SOLID (an organization I belong to).  From there, I had to rush back up to Nashville to help with a storage load-in for the Yard Sale that SOLID does every year. 

By the time I got home, I was pooped.  I took a short nap, and then just veg’d on the couch for the remainder of the night.  

Then as my husband was leaving for work at 10:30, he pulled an “oh by the way”.  This “oh by the way” was, “my parents are coming over tomorrow, they’ll be here at 8AM”

Thanks for the notice.  So then I went into speed mode to clean and pick-up the house until about 1am.

I still feel pretty lousy today (as per the first couple of days with the ole visitor), so doing squat presses is about as appealing as poking my eye with a fork.  We’ll see what this afternoon brings.

Happy Saturday!

WEll, apparently not for me.  I feel like a fool that at 30 I’m having trouble riding a bike.  What the hell.

I’m gonna give it another go tomorrow.  I’m sure the neighbors are enjoying the show.

I’m tired.  Swim was great tonight, chicken burgers for dinner, and an early bedtime for me.

See ya in the morning!

Done.

Woke up a little less sore, and I think I can already tell that my endurance has increased a bit.  Sorry if the countdown is a bit monotonous, but I was going to keep this a tracker for completing the actual 30 days.

I’m going to stay at Level 1 for the first 10 days, and on day 11 try Level 2.  I can see myself getting bored staying at Level 1 for all 30 days.  

Shower, work, and swim tonight!  

• Woke up and did the shred.  Since I didn’t have swim tonight, I could sleep a touch later.  Apparently, I forgot to set my alarm later so there was definitely excessive snooze hitting.
• Went to DD and ordered the eggwhite flatbread and my iced coffee had skim milk instead of cream.  I think I’ll save my money next time - the sandwich was less than impressive.
• Got to work, got out of the car, and the iced coffee lid popped off and spilled all down my front.  It was so cold it took my breath away.  Thank GOD I was wearing dark colors today.  I did smell like coffee all day, though.
• I definitely grunted a little when getting up at work today.  My thighs hurt so very bad.  A good bad, but still.
• Totally stayed within my calories today by making smart choices.  Didn’t order the noodle dish at lunch.  Husband wanted to have pizza at dinner, so I ate half of my 10” and am taking the other half for lunch tomorrow.
• Went and look at a bike today, and BOUGHT IT!  We have to buy a new seat post because this one is a bit too high, maybe.  It was rapidly getting dark when we got home, so we’ll try to adjust the handlebars tomorrow to see if it makes a difference.  
• Totally passed the WEINERMOBILE on my way home.  Made me smile.  Reminded me of a time in college when I was trying to figure out what to do next in life.  I seriously considered applying to be a Weinermobile driver.  My mom threatened to skin me alive if I didn’t use the degree they had just invested so much money in.  My life took me in a different path, and I’m where I’m supposed to be.
• Early to bed, early to rise.  Jillian will be waiting for me!