Well...

Friday, January 22, 2010

I'm not going to hot yoga today. What about my free month you ask? Well, I called the studio and asked if I could double up tomorrow or Sunday and the lady was very nice and said, "of course!"

So why would I not be going this morning?

Well, I ditched my morning shift. I NEEDED the sleep. It has gotten quite bad. So I go back to sleep, get up, talk to a friend of mine and head out to go to yoga. After an hour and 15 minutes on the road, I was back home. It's a long story, but let's just say it was a really bad idea to go at that time in the morning - hello traffic. So I'm stressed as all get out, trying to think of what I would need to pack up, and quickly, to take with me, so I can drive back, get cash, get quarters, find parking and make the noon one. Ok, hold up. The point in taking four hours off of work, and the hit in the paycheck, was for the purpose of regaining some balance. That kind of stressing out ain't it.

So I called the studio. And will do a back to back session on Sunday. It will be hard and hot and sweaty and I'll probably want to die after, but that's okay. Because it's worth it to have a relaxing morning. I'm going to get my strength training in and maybe even a jog. I'm going to finish a project. I'm going to beautify at home for my evening out with a friend.

Then I'll head into work, read for class at work because it will be mostly dead, then go to dinner. Then I'll come home and go to bed. Easy peasy folks.

So I'm still in the challenge and will still get my 90 days. Just in a slightly funky way and I am totally okay with that.

On a really fun note, I start ballet on Sunday also... whoa... that's a whole lot of hours of working out on Sunday... oh boy... well, I'll just make sure to drink A TON of water and get through it. My slippers came in yesterday. Yay!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MEGKRAMER 1/22/2010 11:43AM

Way to go on figuring it all out! A lot of people may just say "Forget it!" but you really made it work. Don't over-do it though!!! And make sure you stick to your plan of drinking all that water! Report Inappropriate Comment

AWOLF24 1/22/2010 11:09AM

Very cool - ballet sounds fun!!!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

PURPLEVALENTINE 1/22/2010 10:58AM

Looks like a busy Sunday but you will burn so many calories...you go girl! Let me know how ballet goes..I miss dancing and thought about joining a studio to get back into it! Report Inappropriate Comment

PEGGYMAS1 1/22/2010 10:57AM

don't kill yourself Sunday we may never hear from you again. Hang in there you will be fine Comment edited on: 1/22/2010 11:02:17 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

SUGIRL06 1/22/2010 10:52AM

Don't forget to pack lots of snacks! Ballet sounds like lots of fun! And that is cool of the studio to let you double up. Have a good weekend!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Hot Yoga

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

I'm back to it!

So, week 2 is going to be both weeks 2 and 3 only because I threw yesterday to the dogs haha. Either that or I'll make week 2 Wednesday-Wednesday. I'll let you know my decision tomorrow. Knowing me, it's going to be that last option.

Anyways, so hot yoga!

Derrick, one of my best friends, decides he wants to go with me. He was the one who turned me onto it, then quit, and now has decided he wants to do it again. So we pay for our unlimited monthly and I read a sign on the wall about a 90 day challenge.

What is this you ask? You have to go every single day for 90 days straight and then you get a free month.

Guess who signed up for that bad boy? That's right, yours truly. Who made Derrick sign up for it as well? That's right, yours truly.

I'm just going to take it week by week. To look at it as 90 days is really quite daunting. So today was day one of seven. Then it'll start over. And over. And over. Haha. I'm actually really quite excited.

Except now I've realized... I'll be doing this 90-day challenge AND training to actually be able to jog for a whole 30 minutes (i.e. C25K). I think I am INSANE. But I'm pretty cool in my insanity I think .

And further, we may or may not have had a few drinks last night - which makes hot yoga insanely hard. DOES NOT EQUAL .

So here's the layout (yes, starting tomorrow, I've already made up my mind) of what's to come for the next seven days...

Set 1 Goals:
*Nutritional Goal: Eat 5-6 fruits/veggies - DONE
*Fitness Goal: Do 20 minutes of exercise while watching tv - DONE
*Motivational Goal: Work on my thesis proposal for a half hour - TOTALLY NOT DONE
*Financial Goal: Spend only what is budgeted (i.e. no extra spending) - NEED TO BUDGET

Set 2 Goals:
*NSS (Nutrition Secrets): Completed all three
-Range: Didn't track today, so heck if I know
-Sleep: No earthly idea, I'll have to write down when I climb into bed and when I wake up.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CINDYDAVIS04 1/20/2010 8:50AM

Shooooot...you just throw that whole 90-day challenge right in there and use it as a financial motivator, too. A free month of yoga is pretty awesome! Plus I'm pretty sure with all that running and yoga, the pounds are gonna fall off. And all your nutritional/sleep/exercise goals...girl, you wear me out! I am going to cross my fingers for the click :) Report Inappropriate Comment

SARA1SCHOM 1/20/2010 8:00AM

90 days ahh!!! nice. that challenge seems like an awesome way to motivate people! Report Inappropriate Comment

PURPLEVALENTINE 1/20/2010 7:38AM

90 straight days?! WOW - very impressed! Better you than me! Report Inappropriate Comment

BALANCEDLIFE4ME 1/20/2010 7:18AM

Wow! That sounds like an amazing plan. You'll be flexible and getting limber :) Report Inappropriate Comment

SUGIRL06 1/19/2010 9:00PM

You are insane!!! In a good way! 90 days is a long time but I have faith in you! Good luck!!! ~Ang Report Inappropriate Comment

AWOLF24 1/19/2010 8:56PM

90 days in a row? And C25K? WOW! You can do it Morgan!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MILWJAMIE 1/19/2010 8:01PM

That 90 day challenge sounds awesome!! Best of luck to you!! I did the C25K and it was really my friend's idea....cause I HATE running. Well used to! The program made me kinda like it a little.. So stick with it once you start!! It will be so worth it!! The first time you run the 20 minutes, it will be so hard but it isn't so bad once you've made it past that! The thing that helped me on the long distances (and any distance really! Sometimes the shorter ones are worse than the long ones!!) was to look at a point a block or so away and just push myself to get to that point. Then keep doing that on the whole run. It sounds dumb but it really gets you to not think about your feet. Good luck!! --Jamie (Also, not to write a book or anything...I had to click thru to your blog because it was titled "Hot Yoga". Not sure what you mean by this, but thought that you were referring to this strange yoga DVD I got once on netflix streaming called "Hot Yoga"...which I wouldn't really recommend anyone to workout to!! haha) Report Inappropriate Comment

The Spark: Chapter 7

Monday, January 18, 2010

A new week, therefore, the next chapter! Yay! Finally!

Here's how I'm going to play it. I'm still going to keep up the fast break goals each week - either build on the prior week or do a whole new one. I like the idea of weekly mini goals. So I'll lay out the fast break goals first, then go into the action steps for the week from week 2.

I completed last weeks fast break goals!
Last week:
*Nutritional Goals: Eat two fruits or veggies
*Fitness Goals: Do 15 minutes of exercise while watching tv
*Motivational Goals: Read a motivational story or book
*Financial Goal: No fast food

This week: (All per day)
*Nutritional Goal: Eat 5-6 fruits/veggies
*Fitness Goal: Do 20 minutes of exercise while watching tv
*Motivational Goal: Work on my thesis proposal for a half hour
*Financial Goal: Spend only what is budgeted (i.e. no extra spending)

Actions Steps for Chapter 7:

1. Take the Healthy Lifestyle Pledge
*I did a slightly different thing and made my own little pact for myself and signed that.

2. Adopt the 3 Nutrition Secrets of Success
-Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies: did anybody notice the fast break nutrition goal for the week???
-Eat breakfast daily: easy peasy
-Drink 8 cups of water daily: I need to be a little better about that this week, although I'll be going to yoga daily, so that won't be too difficult

3. Meet the Nutrition Guidelines
-I.e. stay in my calorie range and all that jazz
-While there are a few ranges on the SP site, I'm going to stick with staying in calorie range for this week - if I choose to pay attention to another range next week or the week after, I'll deal with that then

4. Consistently Exercise 10 Minutes a Day
-Anybody notice the exercise goal for the fast break??? Haha. I'm on it!

5. Get Adequate Sleep
-Uuuuhhh, whoops. Ok, starting tonight! I'm on it! IN BED by 10:00!!! I'm not sure that's quite adequate with a 4:45 wake-up, but it will have to do.

So I'll list out my fast break goals and my week 2 goals which will read like this:
-NSS (Nutrition Secrets): completed all or whatever I did or didn't complete
-Range: how many calories did I eat that day
-Sleep: how many hours did I get the night before

So that's the plan and I'm sticking to it!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PURPLEVALENTINE 1/18/2010 1:40PM

You are all kinds of organized so you will do great! Here's to a new week! Report Inappropriate Comment

AWOLF24 1/18/2010 11:27AM

Don't know how you keep track of all these but you are up to the challenge, I'm sure!!!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Crazy Week

Monday, January 18, 2010

Well, the week has been stressful as all get out and I'm really looking forward to this week - I'm thoroughly hoping it's more productive and less emotionally draining.

On top of dad's surgery and Joe going missing, I also had a night where a friend called, crying and suicidal, so I took her to the hospital. Where I proceeded to stay up the ENTIRE night because they are SLOW. You'd think they'd want to process the ones wanting to die a little quicker. Regardless, I was a cranky pants yesterday because four nights of no sleep...

Yes, there was a fourth at some point because of boy drama, just friends, but... and I may or may not have finally fessed up my actual feelings... I don't think he got the point I don't just love him as a friend. So that's just a total eyeball roller .

I'm feeling incredibly lucky today. I've been tired and cranky and fat feeling and all that jazz. But somebody I've known since 7th grade passed away during the night and to be alive to be on this journey is a blessing. Yes, I can't stand being fat, but I'm healthy and I'm strong and I'm going to stay that way - just healthier and stronger.

I'll blog about this weeks goals for The Spark later on. I just wanted to stop in and say hi everybody.

Oh! And I didn't gain any weight this week. Didn't lose it, but didn't gain it. Considering the emotionally traumatic week - I'm counting this as a big fat plus and success because I didn't shovel food in my mouth at every opportunity.

Onward and downward!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SUGIRL06 1/18/2010 6:39PM

I'm sorry about all the icky stuff that happened this weekend but I'm glad you seem ok and pretty optimistic! Congrats on keeping your head on through this week! ~Ang Report Inappropriate Comment

PURPLEVALENTINE 1/18/2010 1:38PM

I agree with Anne - maintaining after all you went through is fantastic! Report Inappropriate Comment

AWOLF24 1/18/2010 8:54AM

I would have been a total eating machine with all of that stress you had going on last week. Big kudos to you for maintaining through all of that! I really hope this week is much calmer for you! Report Inappropriate Comment

NANC304 1/18/2010 8:51AM

I'm sorry you had such a hard week and I hope this one is much better for you. Good job of not gaining anything with all that stress going on. Stay strong and don't forget to take care of you! Report Inappropriate Comment

2 Meals at ONE Restaurant???

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Day 5 Fast Break Goals Completed:
*I ate something or other related. Folks, this was yesterday. Like you expect me to remember???
*I did a half hour ab workout while watching Criminal Minds
*I ate no fast food
*I read a fun book!

Day 6 Fast Break Goals Completed:
*I ate raspberries, spinach, avocado, and lots of other stuff
*I did a 15 minute ab workout while watching Criminal Minds (will do! I promise!)
*I ate no fast food
*I read some in preparation of teaching Sunday School tomorrow

So first of all, before I get into my day, I'd just like to say I'm really proud of myself for doing a really good job on these fast break goals. I "cheated" the first time around and this time, I'm holding firm and I feel better all the way around.

Now! Onto my fun day!

Well, the morning was a whole lot of nutty. But then... I got to see Christine! I got my nails done first, so that was a good relaxation point.

So we meet right around 2 at this little restaurant in Shirlington, really chill place called "Busboys & Poets". We both did a really good job of picking out lunch, of course discussing what would be healthy but still fun. So we chat. And chat. And chat.

Then the waiter comes by... "would you guys like to see a dinner menu???"

Uuuuhhhh.... yyyaaaahhhh... we definitely had been sitting there for over four hours chatting away about a whole host of things. School, bad word boy (cause I can't call him a name on this oh so family friendly site), weddings, all sorts of stuff.

So then we also had a pretty healthy dinner. I had a vegan pizza. I learned the calories and fat content saved in the mozzarella is soooooo not worth it. Gr-oss. For those of you who like it, more power to ya, but to me, YUCK. At first I was thinking it's not all that bad... then it started congealing in a really weird way. Well, bright side is: I didn't eat it all.

So yah, Christine and I spent a load of time together and I enjoyed every dang minute. I suppose I should insert here that Christine is also on spark, hence the chatting about nutrition content, etc.

Her sister, Anne, who is also on spark, is coming into town at the beginning of March. I am super stoked to get the chance to meet her and have an all around fun day with the Kula sisters.

P.S. Ladies who are not offended by language, go to my personal blog site and look at the last blog I "wrote" (not today's). I think you'll find it utterly amusing. Feel free to leave a comment there if you so wish!
funnylifeofmo.blogspot.com

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NAHLIKCJ 1/19/2010 10:20PM

If you're going to add AWOLF to the mix, you might need to add another meal. I mean, after all, you'll have another person to talk to? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Report Inappropriate Comment

CINDYDAVIS04 1/19/2010 7:03PM

:( This is my pout face. Everyone together except for me. Stupid Florida!!! On the other hand, it sounds like you had a great time! You have singled-handedly got to me seriously contemplate reading The Spark and actually DOING all the steps! LOL I knew I was going to read it, but I hadn't (and still haven't, totally) committed to actually you know "working the program", so thanks for your positive influence! Boo, pout, jealous!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

AWOLF24 1/18/2010 8:55AM

Just for the record - I am still laughing that you guys were there that long!!! Maybe we should plan on lunch AND dinner when I come to visit in March! LOLOL Report Inappropriate Comment

AWOLF24 1/17/2010 9:16AM

You guys are TOO FUNNY! I can't wait to meet you in person when I visit! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Off to check out your personal blog site now... Comment edited on: 1/17/2010 9:17:02 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

GETNFIT4M3 1/16/2010 11:49PM

Sounds like you girls had a great day! That is awesome! Report Inappropriate Comment

AFM-SPARK 1/16/2010 11:18PM

There is a Busboys & Poets near me. I'll have to check it out. Report Inappropriate Comment

PURPLEVALENTINE 1/16/2010 10:25PM

We rocked Busboy & Poets today! Had soooo much fun!! I still can't believe we were there that long! Report Inappropriate Comment