Just a Really Nice Day :)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

I had such a nice day today. It was one of those workdays that just feels like a day spent hanging out with your friends. I laughed so hard so many times today. It was good

It was kind of another tough day physically though. I came home really tired, but I was so determined to do my pushups for Day 2 of my Pushup Challenge!

Today I jumped rope for 15 minutes to start the calorie burn. For anyone who is wondering where my jump per interval count went, I'm still doing it. The thing is I'm changing my jump style from slower double jumps to fast single jumps. Since that's harder, I sort of have to play catch-up. I did 80 JPI today.

Then did my pushup challenge. I am proud to report I did twice the minimum number for the maximum set. If that makes any sense.

Then I did some wall sits, planks, and butt lifts. I'm excited because I can now hold a modified plank for well over a minute, so I tried a plank on my toes and can hold that for 30 seconds. Oddly it's not my core that's getting tired- it's my shoulders. I just read an article on SP like, yesterday, that said you should do the exercise you want the most out of first- which is why I start with my pushups. Because each exercise will tire out your muscles and will prevent you from doing following exercises to the best of your physical ability. So yeah, starting with pushups. Which tires out my shoulders for my planks.

My lunch today was awesome. I had a salad with a cup or two of Rainbow Salad (also known as Broccoli Slaw, consisting of shredded cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower) with shrimps, cashews, tomatoes, and light Sun Dried Tomato dressing. It was SO GOOD. I've been craving some greenstuffs lately. Those veggies really hit the spot. With it, I had some fresh raspberries (HELLO, SUMMER FRUIT!!! How I have missed you!) and a little individual cottage cheese cup. It was soooooooo good and very filling.

I have a new goal. It's not really new. I've been sticking to it for weeks. I feel bad I have to leave my kitties for 10 hours a day, so I made a commitment to play with them for 15 minutes every morning. We both need it. And I have been doing it, every morning, without fail, playing Bird with my boys before I go to work. I'm thinking of adding an evening playtime goal too. The thing about pets is, you're basically their whole world... they don't have a job and friends and other stuff going on... they just have you. So you have to give them lots of your time. It's not fair if you don't.

And those are today's thoughts.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

VAMANOS 4/14/2011 12:52PM

Sounds perfect for you! If we lived close, I'd go play with your kitties so they wouldn't miss you so much. I have to enjoy other people's kitties, since my hubby is allergic to cats. I, however, love them and sure miss interacting with them on a daily basis. We need them as much as they need us, I think. Report Inappropriate Comment

SPACELION 4/13/2011 9:09PM

Wheyyyy sounds like you had an awesome day :) - I also love silly days at work where the time flies quicker. Unfortunately I work with morons, so that rarely happens ahaha. Way to go on getting your crazy exercise in! I'm buying a skipping rope this week! Eep :D xxx Report Inappropriate Comment

DBFBILLY 4/13/2011 8:33PM

That's awesome you had a good day at work..we don't have those much anymore.. Congrats on your exercise and your yummy lunch Report Inappropriate Comment

BBORDEN86 4/13/2011 7:56PM

I love days at work like that! They make it go by quicker. You are doing really well at your workouts. I'm getting so frustrated with jump roping. I love it, but I keep getting the rope hung up on my hair because I have it up, and my shoes. It's just ridiculous. I don't know if I have the rope to long or what. Aw, this makes me feel sad for my cat. He's home alone all day from 9am to 9pm because I work two jobs. Report Inappropriate Comment

A Thought About Procrastination

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Today is a Planned Day Off. Meaning, I decided Saturday when making my weekly workout schedule that Tuesday would be my day off. My choices are limited. Since I started doing the Pushup Challenge, I have to work out Monday, Wednesday, Friday. That leaves Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday off. Well, scratch the weekend days. Those are days I have more time than any other to work out, plus the choice of WHEN to work out. Thursday is a no also, because I like to feel fab on Friday and start my weekend off right. So Tuesday it is, by process of elimination. Also, rain was in the forecast. So it worked well. Also, I'm especially beat from work tonight.

I stopped at Wegman's (yes!!! There's a Wegman's RIGHT BY where I work!) and bought some rainbow salad. I've been meaning to try it for months, but all the piddly-@ss grocery stores around here don't have it. So I stopped at Wegman's and got it, shrimp, cashews, cherry tomatoes, and my beloved Ken's Lite Sun-Dried Tomato salad dressing, which Matt and I thought had been discontinued. We were both heartbroken... in other news, I LOVE WEGMAN'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rest of this week, I'm going to have Shrimp Rainbow Salad for lunch. My own creation. Om nom nom nom.

About the procrastination business, I've been meaning to blog this for a long time... I found it to be tremendously helpful and I wanted to share it with others.

When I transferred to Penn State Behrend from Penn State Shenango, it was quite a shock because Behrend seemed so huge compared to teeny weeny Shenango. I felt really overwhelmed and started doing badly in my classes, so I went to see a counselor. When I described my problems I was having, he gave me a photocopied chapter from a self-help book. It was about procrastination, and one line really hit me, and has stuck with me for years.

"Don't wait until you 'feel like' doing it, because chances are good you'll never 'feel like' doing it."

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FREECANDY 4/12/2011 8:42PM

The only - and I do mean ONLY - thing I miss about the semester I spent living in Erie is Wegman's. That place is great! And how funny, I just bought some Ken's Sun-Dried Tomato tonight. If it's ever discontinued I have no idea what I'll do. I like that line about procrastination. I am a notorious procrastinator doing my best to reform, but that is totally me...I'll wait until I feel like it knowing full well that I'll never feel like it. It's one of the things I like least about myself and also one of the things I'm trying hardest to change. Report Inappropriate Comment

KISSIMS19 4/12/2011 8:29PM

I swear, I will never move to a place where there is (gasp) no Wegmans!!!!!! I don't know how you did it for so long! I swear, a week without a wegmans visit feels incomplete. The quality, variety and service are the BEST. I feel like a better person just walking through the doors.... Yes, I know that is nonsensical. Wegmans love Fest over. Then again - YAY for you having a Wegmans again!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recently read an article in Real Simple magazine that has helped me pay closer to procrastination. If I wasn't typing this on my iPhone (boyfriend hogging the computer all night) I would give you the link. Message you tomorrow with it perhaps. As for that quote, I think I'm going to tape it to my lamp next to the bed to read the next time I "plan" an am workout :) Hope you are relaxing and resting! Report Inappropriate Comment

VAMANOS 4/12/2011 7:53PM

Darn it, there goes my last excuse. Report Inappropriate Comment

BBORDEN86 4/12/2011 7:00PM

So true about the procrastination thing!! Glad you got your rainbow salad. : ) Report Inappropriate Comment

Hundred Pushup Challenge, Slimmed Arms and CUPCAKE! OMG yes!!1

Monday, April 11, 2011

I'm also doing the Long-Arse-See-How-Much-Can-Fit-In-That-
Text-Box-Blog-Title Challenge.

What? I want to attract all readers. Readers interested in pushups, non-scale victories, and cupcakes.

I'm thinking maybe I should have just called it Cupcake. Cupcakes attract EVERYONE.

So, first up- I decided to do the 100 Pushup Challenge.



S'what I'm talking about. Pushups are so hardcore.

I'm starting at the beginner's very beginning, for good measure. I'm going to complete the program with knee pushups, and then re-do it. To the toes!!!!

Second- I was pleasantly surprised today when I got dressed. That's always awesome, right? I wore a shirt today that I bought a few months ago. Then, the sleeves were uncomfortably tight and cut into my arms. Today, it fit normally! YAY!!!! I'm really happy about that. I hate having flabby, shapeless arms. I'm a lucky mesomorph who puts on muscle quickly when I work at it, so when I work my arms, they can look damn good. I'm pretty excited by the prospect of finishing up my first 100 Pushup Challenge by summer, I bet they'll be looking nice by then

Lastly... I had the tastiest lunch today. Probably not the healthiest, but whatev. I was lazy and didn't make tuna salad last night, so I had to buy my lunch at the cafeteria. Which I'm never too upset about, because their food is so nom I had a Greek turkey wrap and an orange. Then Kristy, the other temp, pulled out the most GORGEOUS jumbo cupcake I have ever seen. It was her birthday celebration over the weekend and she got it from some upscale bakery in Philly. She cut me a small piece. (about two bites' worth)

It... was... AMAZING. Rich red velvet, so moist it was practically wet. The frosting was a dream. Lightly sweet, and sooooooooo smooth and creamy. I did something I never do- I really, really tasted it. I let it just sit in my mouth and took it all its wonder. I basked in the glory of the cupcake.

A few minutes later, she offered me the last piece. I said, (like a good health-conscious lady) "No thank you, I really shouldn't."

Kristy says, "I'ma count to three."

She didn't even get to one.

You gotta live life, man. We only get one.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KITTY_WHO 4/12/2011 5:04AM

Ooh can you do ladies' push ups on the challenge? I can't do one "real" one. It makes me sob. Well, not really, there is a fair bit of me to "push up" after all. Good luck with it! Am I right in thinking there is a crunches version too? Report Inappropriate Comment

CHERWHOAH 4/11/2011 11:24PM

I thought about doing the 100 pushup challenge. i wished they had a free app for that for the iphone. MMM cupcakes, cupcakes are evil, pure delicious evil. I totally feel yah on the whole arms thing. I used to have to go a size up just to get the arms to fit for tshirts. We should have a "hot shapely arms for the summer" challenge! Report Inappropriate Comment

RAIVONG 4/11/2011 10:43PM

Oh my a push up challenge. I think I'll join you on that one, especially since summer time is right around the corner. The cupcake sounds yummy too. Let there be cake with a side of great arms!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

KISSIMS19 4/11/2011 8:53PM

:) I heart your posts... 100 push ups.. that is hardcore. You are for realsies. How many push ups are you up to now? Your post inspired me to get on the floor and see how many push ups I could do. The answer? 15 from the knee :) I'm going to motivate you (maybe) for every day of your push up challenge, I will do at least 25 push ups. That's right, a whole 25. Hehe... it's not much. But I feel like doing push ups with you. I have to go to 10 more push ups now ;) Report Inappropriate Comment

APIRLRAIN888 4/11/2011 8:19PM

LOL woohooo on pushup challenge! I am doing p90x! the 2nd month pushup are crazy, one hand, clapping, tricks! hahahahaha! I am at 8 on toes each you can do it! I was sitting out and watch wk 1, knee for first month and attemps as much as I can now on toes bef finishing on knees ;p Report Inappropriate Comment

VAMANOS 4/11/2011 7:54PM

I never really thought about it before, but jumping rope has to tone your arms, too, right? for the cupcake story. Wish I could have seen that! Did you bite it right out of her fingers, and does she still have all the joints? ROLFMAO Report Inappropriate Comment

BBORDEN86 4/11/2011 7:15PM

One of these days, I'll tackle that you're calling the push up. Haha, my arms sure could use it. I agree you should live a little!! The cake sounded yummy anyways. Keep it up on the workouts, they sound awesome! Report Inappropriate Comment

IKKIMIKKI 4/11/2011 7:07PM

Ohhh...push up challenge sounds awesome! I might tag along. Yay!!! On your arms shaping up nicely. Good for not letting her get to one either. Perfect yummy treat and build in portion control. Can't beat that! Report Inappropriate Comment

And In Workout News...

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Yesterday's bootcamp workout consisted of 2 minute rounds, like we used to do in kickboxing. I like not having to count stuff. Counting reps kinda sucks. I did wall sits, side lunges, donkey kicks, pushups, leg lifts, planks, tricep extensions... and other stuff that I can't remember and my list is alllllll the way across the room. (I'm super lazy. Seriously. I like to work hard and sweat and give it my all when I work out, but the rest of the time, I'm soooooooooo lazy.)

It was effective. Every part of me is sore today. Except quads. Guess I slacked in that area. But it's okay because everything else hurts Chest, arms, abs, and butt are all aching wonderfully. I love it. I love the burn. There's nothing like it.

Today I went outside for a butt-kicking cardio jump rope workout. I jumped for 40 minutes.

First 15 minutes: 80 jumps per interval, recover, repeat.
Second 15 minutes: 30 power jumps, recover, repeat
Last 10 minutes: Fun jumping. No counting, just jumping to the music for as long as I can. In this portion I am attempting to get faster and eliminate the middle bounce I still do during the long(er) intervals where I'm trying to increase my jumps per interval.

Lastly, I want say a big to my Sparkfriend EMILLER22. Not just for being , which she totally is, by the way, but for telling me about the Hundred Pushup Challenge.

www.hundredpushups.com

I printed out the program and I'm starting tomorrow! I can't wait!!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

APIRLRAIN888 4/11/2011 12:40AM

you can do it Report Inappropriate Comment

FREECANDY 4/10/2011 1:07PM

That 100 push-ups thing looks great. I may have to give that a try also. Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLEN4TL 4/10/2011 12:55PM

I just looked up the 100 push-up challenge. I am going to try to do it too! Report Inappropriate Comment

Dinner Winner- Sloppy Buffalo Joes

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Last night I made sloppy buffalo joes. Believe me when I say they were several notches above Manwich and required very little extra effort. Also, I believe these to be awesome man and teenager food. I have a man, and I was a teenager not long ago, so I know.

Here is the original recipe:

SLOPPY BUFFALO JOES

2 lb extra lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
6 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 cup tomato sauce
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
1 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tsp chili powder
12 hamburger buns, split, toasted

And if you're feeling naughty...

BLUE CHEESE SAUCE

1 (8 oz.) container sour cream
2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 tbsp finely chopped green onion
2 tsp buffalo wing sauce

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Cook beef and onion in skillet until beef is browned. Drain. Spoon beef mixture into crockpot. Add remaining sloppy joe ingredients (except buns). Stir well.

Cover, cook on low 3-4 hours.

In a small bowl, mix sauce ingredients. To serve, spoon 1/3 cup sloppy joe mixture on bottom half of each bun. Spread 1 tbsp sauce on top half of each bun, place over meat.


I hate crunching down on onions, so I used dried onion, and no celery. I despise celery. Also, we only have Indian nuclear chili powder, found in Indian grocery stores in a 1 lb bag for about $1, and which will burn your face off. So I put in less than 1/2 tsp of that.

My boyfriend gave them an 8.5, which for him is excellent. He never gives anything a 10. 9 is about the highest anything gets. He also doesn't even really like sloppy joes. So I figure this is a Dinner Winner!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TINY67 4/11/2011 10:55AM

Have to give them a try. Report Inappropriate Comment

VAMANOS 4/10/2011 10:33AM

I'm not a huge fan of sloppy joes, mostly because I don't like soggy bread, but these sound tasty! I know my hubby would love them. He just came in to see why I was laughing so hard, and I had to explain about chili powder that will burn your face off. I only like cooked celery, so I would chop both the onions and the celery very fine and saute them until they're tender before adding them to the meat, or vice versa. I'd also use fat-free or reduced fat sour cream, so I wouldn't have to feel naughty about the sauce, especially if I were using nuclear chili powder! Hmmmm, wonder if chopped cabbage would taste good on it, like it does on pulled pork sandwiches? Report Inappropriate Comment

LJCANNON 4/10/2011 9:45AM

These sound AWESOME!! The only change I MIGHT make is to use Ground Turkey or Ground Buffalo. Report Inappropriate Comment

DBFBILLY 4/10/2011 9:38AM

Omg..this sounds AWESOME..my son will love these and I will too..Thanks for sharing I might make this for dinner..I was looking for somethin differnent this week.. Report Inappropriate Comment