On Your Mark, Get Set....

Go!!!!!

Front shot



Side Shot --- my goodness!!!

The backside - ugly ugly!!!

Since the beginning of September I have been participating in Syl's 30 day challenge that she has going on her blog and Facebook page. I've not been to the gym every day this month nor did I expect to be.

I started this challenge as way to get my motivation level up and inspire myself to want to do something more than nothing. It is a great way for me to get back to doing something for me and only me. That comes out more selfish than I would or could ever be.

I'm not back to work yet, so getting to the gym is pretty easy right now. I will be juggling and struggling more when I am back to work. As of right now, I'm not sure when that will be. I was to have a doctor's appointment today to assess the situation and see where and what happens next, but my doctor's office called early this morning to cancel the appointment. My next appointment isn't until next Tuesday now.

Sadly, my breathing issues are still front and centre. I struggle to get a full breath and have to do funky things with my mouth to get a decent breath or a full lung breath. I do a lot of sighing and it sounds like I'm always yawning or huffing in annoyance. I'm not, I'm just trying to breath. Scary crap, I tell ya! I think it's related to stress and anxiety, but a doctor I'm not so who really knows.

As for the gym, I've currently been there 9/12 days. All things considered I'm extremely impressed with that so far. I will keep working towards my goal of a healthier more fit body. Mentally, I'm a long way off, but I will keep working on that too!

Until next time, to those of you that are still out there reading - thank you!

Love and hugs!

Operation Fat Blaster

I'm always on the lookout for new things to try that will assist me with reaching my fitness goals. I've discovered something new! I'm really excited about it. Those of you who read my blog that participate in fitness challenges and want to get fit, check it out.

Operation Fat Blaster is an Internet community set up to offer support and assistance in achieving your weight loss and healthier lifestyle.

I discovered this community via Tigerlily. I'm always reading this blog, although I don't always post. I see a lot of me in her, so I'm always over there wondering how parallel our journey is on any given day. Thank you so much for posting this link.

What is the blog day? I'm feast or famine!

Sciatic Sadness

I hate this, I really do.

My sciatic nerve is acting up again. I can't believe it. I'm so very sad.

I've been in denial for the last couple weeks and have to finally admit to myself that the sciatic nerve is rearing it's ugly head again. I was sitting on the couch last night in excruciating pain. I was almost in tears, but fought them back. Tears are not going to make it better. I'm feeling the tinges of pain in various areas of my day to day functions. I get nasty aches in my left hip, so much so that I wake up in pain. I feel a dull/sharp shooting pain in my left calf shooting from my hip. I can feel the stiffness setting in after a day sitting at work. I try to move around a bit more than normal. That is often easier said than done. This job is too unpredictable to be up walking around. Not to mention that I think my coworkers would get a bit annoyed if I were to become a slacker.

I'm pissed. It's been a hellish week and this admission doesn't make it any better. Life is good, but things are just happening around me that I can't control. The control freak in me is not happy!

I'm not going to let this stop me. I'm not hitting the gym with the intensity that I'm accustomed and I want to still be able to go to the gym, so I'm going to continue on but just not overdo it. I don't ALWAYS feel the pain when on the treadmill, but after, especially if I really push it. It's always something, isn't it? I guess that's what happens when you're knocking on the door of 40 years old.

On that note, have a great one!

WI Success

Well, my weigh in this morning. What can I say? Are you anxiously awaiting my results?

I was more apprehensive for this weigh in that I can remember of any in my recent history. I've eaten not the greatest, but tried to be conscientious of healthy choices over those not so healthy. Work outs were done, but not many. The head games were played and the water consummed.

I'm down 1.2lbs to 133.6lbs! I'm blown away!!! Go Team Lynn!

I'm moving today so I will be hit and miss on the computer and your blogs for the remainder of the weekend. I'm rooting for you! I'm here for you in spirit, if not in type written word.

As for a few questions that have been asked of me.... I've not had a Kashi bar yet, but I'm toting one around in my bag as we speak. It will be eaten at some point during the next couple days while life is nuts and the move is being done.

I will take pics of the house once I'm really there and have a minute to call my own.

Until next time, healthy thoughts to you!

All Over The Map With Things

House Chatter ~
I'm at work which enables me more time to read and stitch and just be a bum! I love this shift (6p-2am) and I hate this shift. I love it for the quiet time it allows, but get so sick of 2am bed time. This is my last shift this week since I booked Thursday and Friday off to move. You see that - MOVE! I'm finally moving.

This move has been a work in progress for 1 year and 10 days! Cute Boy and I looked at that most amazing house January 4th of 2008! Can you believe it's been that long? I can and can't. Those of you that have been around for a while, remember the renovations?! Goodness, how could you forget them!

I packed up about 10 boxes today. Do I really need 6 boxes/totes of clothing? A box of just flip flops? Flip Flops! An entire box of flip flops and the same with baseball hats? How many heads do I have?

BLBE/Healthy Lifestyle/Gym Thoughts ~
Not much been going on. I had lofty dreams of making it to the gym this week, but it just isn't going to happen. The eating has been scary to be generous in trying to describe. I fully expecting a gain. I have no one to blame but myself. I'm better than I've shown my team this week. I'm better than this for myself, too! Damn it. Soon though, very soon there will be no more excuses.

I did fall in food love this morning. I knew I was going to be out of bed rather early from a 2am bedtime and didn't want to eat garbage on the go while doing lawyer stuff for the house, so I took with me a Salba Organic bar (tried to find a good pic on line and couldn't). It was absolutely one of the best things I've ever eaten. It was crunchy and seedy (love seeds) and the flavour was awesome and only 4 points. It is a great cheater breakfast for those days when life gets in the way of a sit down breakfast for me. I will definitely be carrying of those babies around in my purse from now on. Ya me!

BLBE Team ~
I think I'm caught up on all your blogs. I'm pretty positive I've commented on everyone's blog. If not, I apologize. I'm working on getting Angie's team blogs added to their folder and I will get to caught up them soon enough! For the first time since the teams were formed, I've had my google reader down to under 100 entries! You are an inspiring bunch of people. I'm really looking forward to kicking this thing in to high gear with each and every one of you.

Stitching/Reading ~
I've been reading and stitching here at work this week while working this crazy shift. I can't see much of either hobby being done in the next couple days. I'm hoping to have a WIP to post tomorrow. I'm about an hour outside of a pic on Enchanted Fairy. She is a pretty one. I guess the only way to get the time block done is to step back from the keyboard and put needle to fabric.

To all my readers, far and wide - You're awesome!

Happy healthy days to you. Those of my stitcher friends, may the frog be busy doing what frogs do when not wrecking havoc on unsuspecting stitchers pieces.

MAWWHHH

Just Get It Done, Already!

Well, its been that kind of day.

I went to the gym today for the first time since October and I don't even really count that day since I was so unhappy at that gym. I'm now back to 'my' gym. It feels like coming home.

I woke up this morning knowing I was hitting the gym after work and, truth be told, I couldn't wait for the work day to come to an end so I could get on the road to the new me.

The gym was busy, as I expected it to be and that was okay. I had a treadmill and that was all that mattered to me. It was comforting to be amongst fellow fitness minded people. There was this wee spit of a girl beside me, running her little legs to the pace of which I miss. She was incredibly inspiring and I could have kissed her if it wouldn't have freaked her out.

This gym day was a burn of 245 calories burned and the distance of 3.99KM. Not my best time distance, but I don't care. I needed to start somewhere and this was as good as any place to start. I've a long way to go yet, but this is another step towards a better healthier me.

I could easily live with the high I'm feeling right now! I love it and I feel incredible to know that tomorrow is going to be some of the same!

Lululemon Lovely

This would my most recent clothing acquisition! Goodness me! What have I done? My tank is solid black, no grey as shown in the picture.
I'm starting at the gym again on January 1st (not a resolution) and I thought I'd treat myself to a new piece of clothing in celebration of this new chapter, or rather returning chapter in my life.

I'm at work today, as much I was would rather be at home coming to work was okay. I was able to pick up my gym membership card. So, no excuses for me. Come January 1st I'm a full fledged gym member again.

The thoughts of going to the gym is exciting and frightening at the same time! I'm scared of failing and not reaching my success level of before. Before is in the past and I have to remember that! The now is what matters. Now is the time for me to be serious about my health and not just for a short time, but for a lifetime.

Good Grief GoodLife

I just laid out the cash to join the gym AGAIN. I'm excited and scared all at the same time. I'm looking forward to the challenge, yet still concerned about the time commitment. I know I have a crazy life and I will be struggling to juggle it all.

I want this to be the time that I make a difference in my life and with my body. I want to do this for myself on MY terms and no one else's. I will do my best with no excuses. I am not going to set myself up as being SuperWoman. I will do what I can do with my eye on the end goal with an appreciation for the journey.

I've walked this path before, once with a friend and was successful and another time with my ex-husband. The time with the ex-husband was a smashing success. The gym became our life, good, bad or otherwise. There are many happy and not so happy moments attached to my gym going history. I want this time around to be one that expunges the bad and restores my faith in my ability to do this for myself. I may not get myself to the point of my previous success, I might just surpass it. Now, wouldn't that be a hell of a tribute to me?

I have a couple weeks before I can start going to the gym since my membership isn't active until January 1st. This will give me additional time to wrap my head around what I want to do and how. I know for certain I am going to shoot to hit the gym 3-4 days per week and then build from there. The first couple weeks of January will be a jumble mess of scheduling since I am hoping to be busy with moving to the new house. YAAAAAA

My full time schedule should enable me to hit the gym more regularly and still have a life, something I need to keep peace and sanity in my world. I want to still have ample time with Princess and Cute Boy, so I'm hoping to hit the gym on the days before work when I can and then on my way home when I'm working 7a-3pm shifts. I will not take time away from those I love to pursue this time for me, but I will find the most beneficial way of finding the time I need to better balance my head and my desires for a slimmer fit body!

My food issues will be addressed in a future post.