Everything But the Kitchen Sink

I have been MIA for a few weeks, sorry kids! But thanks all for the really nice comments on my Weightless interview! I'm really feeling the love.

Sorry that I have been stinking at blogging lately. I have been tossing around the idea of switching over to Wordpress for awhile now, because blogger just doesn't make blogging fun or easy. Its not an excuse for not blogging, but it has definitely affected my motivation to write lengthy posts. So that switch will probably happen soon. And possibly a whole new blog, too! But more on that in another post.

Currently, life is just super busy. Which is cool.
In personal news: I have committed to coaching 5 people through a program that I took myself last spring. It is amazing experience but a total time suck.
Its is also busy time with my work, which is actually nice because my days have been FLYING by.
I have literally been crashing into bed at night and falling right asleep. This basically never happens.

In health and fitness related news: I have decided to get my certification to be a personal trainer. I registered for a two day hands on workshop to take place in NYC later this month. In addition to that, I have books and study materials to prepare me for the exam (which I can take whenever I feel ready).
I would by lying if I said I had given the decision an extensive amount of thought because I thought about it for maybe 2 days. The decision was easy, really. I'm at the gym everyday (sometimes for several hours), and I love working out. The only piece that was missing for me was to make some money doing it. I went to my gym and spoke with the owner about the various programs, she gave me some advice and off I went. While it is not set in stone, I am about 96% sure I will be able to work at the gym I go to. So even if I have zero clients, I get a free gym membership which is TOTALLY worth it.

The reading has been really challenging. My degrees are in political science, theater and government administration. You will notice that none of those have anything to do with science.
I did take AP bio in high school but I fell asleep almost every day. While I read this book I think about AP bio a lot and how, if I had stayed awake, I probably would have done a LOT better on the AP exam. Turns out, this stuff is pretty interesting. Especially when I can apply to my diet and exercise routine. I am getting a much clearer picture of why my body behaves and reacts the way it does.

In other personal (and work) related news: I spent all of last week in Las Vegas for a work conference. I have never been to Vegas. I probably won't ever go back, but it was fun. Andrew flew out on Thursday and we spent the weekend wandering around. Here are some highlights:

Drinking beer on the astroturf in front of the Wynn (pretty much the only green you'll see in downtown Vegas):


















Lake Meade:


















The Hoover Dam:


















Can you tell I'm terrified of heights?


















We make a tradition of seeking out local brewpubs when we go places:
























Beer flight. The Blueberry Bock (top left) was AWESOME!
























Mmmmm beer!
























We found a program from the Bette Midler show. Naturally, I needed to include Bette in all of my photos that night.
























I bet this guy ends up on a lot of blogs.
























So, yeah, Vegas. A very shiny, dirty, lonely, depressing (and yet highly entertaining) place to visit.

We are also just shy of the three month mark for our wedding. I have so much left to do it makes my head spin. So I will probably put most of it off for another few weeks or so.
Also, the new (and final) season of LOST just started. I will spare you my theories for another post. But I think I know where it's going and I'm NOT psyched about it.

Oh, and in the interest of full disclosure, I ate french fries for dinner last night.

Let's Just Pretend

..that I was doing something TOTALLY amazing instead of just plain old not blogging.

It's been a month and a crap load of stuff has been going on, so I'll try to keep this brief and as interesting as possible.

1) I Overtrained
A few weeks ago, my body had a total breakdown. I did some research and determined that I was more than likely over training. I was actually starting to put weight on and my workouts were becoming a lot less effective. Turns out, its not a great idea to do an intense cardio workout before an intense lifting session. That seems obvious, bu for some reason I thought that I was "kicking it up a notch." I wasn't. So I backed off a bit, added in an extra rest day and separated intense cardio days from intense lifting days. I feel much better, my workouts are far more productive (except yesterday, but I was just not feeling it).
I don't know about you guys, but when I get into a workout routine, I get a little obsessed. I bug out if I take more than 2 days in between workouts. Its a problem because I never give myself enough rest. I think I'm really pushing myself if I workout everyday, but it really isn't doing me any favors. There are a bunch of competing theories on rest and how much is appropriate, but everyone in the interwebs agrees that rest (at least 1-2 days) is essential to great workouts. So I'm trying that now and it seems to be working. My performance is improving and I've been able to really stretch out my cardio days and do a solid hour of running or elliptical a couple times a week.

2) We Went to Some Weddings
We have been to a lot of weddings recently. I love weddings! (Going to them, not planning them).
We have had way to much to drink and have consumed far too many calories. But we danced! Oh, how we danced (and fell. And danced some more).







Only one more wedding to attend and then OURS! That means I have only one more chance to try and catch a damned bouquet! Ever!







3) I Have Been Working Like a Crazy Person
This time of the year is SUPER busy for my work. This means I have been running all over the state of Pennsylvania attending various events for my organization. I have probably had way too much coffee and have over done it on the free meals. On top of the craziness of my job, I have to find time to schedule in surgery on my elbow, attend various community events, be a coach for a seminar we have coming up, and find time to see friends (I know you're out there!).

4) Guests, Galore!
We also had some house guests. First, Matt came for a weekend (Hi, Matt! Look! A new post!). We did a power hour, ate pizza and watched movies. Totally unproductive. But fun!
Then Andrew's brother came for an entire week. I will not elaborate on this week other than to say that it was very, very, very long.

5) I Had Some Fun!
*We went to see Allison's show for the Fringe Festival and it was great! Hil. Arious.
*We attended a seminar on "Reimagining Vacant Land" wherein the city of Philadelphia took some pointers from Flint, Michigan. A sad day when Flint, Michigan is doing better than Philly. (No offense, Flint. Actually, props to Flint. They are efficient and effective. At least when it comes to vacant land. I was impressed.)
*We went to a fundraiser for Neighborhood Bike Works, complete with a happy hour!
*I had my first MRI. It was awful. I guess this shouldn't be under the "fun" category...
* We went to open mic light at the comedy club. The first acts were terrible but the later ones were GREAT! And it was free!
* I got a massage. It wasn't great but it made my mind feel better.
* We got an honorable mention in the City Gardens Contest! Not bad for our first year! It also gets us free tickets to the Flower Show! Score!
* I have had had some delicious Oktoberfests, and pumpkin beers, and apples! I LOOOVE fall!

Soooooo, that's what I've been up to. What about you?

Back on the Buggg

Remember this guy? Ahhhh, my old friend, Body Bugg. Oh how I have ignored you sitting there on my nightstand for the past 1.5 months....



Time's up! I gotta get my butt back in gear. I have put back on all but 9 of the original pounds I lost. I'm feeling gross (Yes, I know that "gross" is not actually a feeling), and my clothes are a little tight and I know exactly what's to blame.

Its the little snacking bites of this...and that. And the random glasses of wine. And the "forgetting" to measure food. And the "forgetting" to log it. BUT NO MORE! The weather is getting gorgeous and I have lots of cute Spring clothes in my closet that I bought when I was 10 pounds lighter. And I'll be damned if I'm not getting into them!

No more excuses! I have taken on so many other parts of my life that I'm not satisfied with in the past few months. Everything, it seems, but my weight. That ends now. But I need your help, blog world!
I need accountability!
I need workouts that are different...and fun!
I need to not eat so much cheese!

Think wedding dress. Think wedding dress.....

the WORST blogger ever

Yea, that's me.

Not only have I been slacking on the blogging, I've been slacking on my gym time and food logging too. But to be fair to me, this has been an AWFUL week! Some bizarre stuff went down at work which has resulted in me taking on the work of 2 people (that's not the bizarre part, just the result of said bizarre things).
In addition to that, I had my FOURTH (yes, fourth!) interview for a new job. It is down to me and one other (older) candidate and the Board making the decision is taking a vote this afternoon! (think good thoughts for me today, we desperately need me to get this job). I am sick to my stomach anxious!

Then, on Thursday, my kitty-Mr. Puss got DEATHLY ill and had to be rushed to the Emergency Room at the UNiversity of PA vet hospital. He had a blocked urinary tract and he hadn't peed in 3 days. The doctors said they were surprised he was alive. He's badass like that. BUt he's still really sick and needs to be there for a few more days. Our other cat, Isabel, cried and cried all day yesterday looking for him. So sad. We love you, buddy!! Get well soon!

And to top it all off, every place we wanted to have our wedding ceremony is booked or blocked (and by blocked I mean the road that this one garden is on is comepletely blocked off the ENTIRE day for a regatta). So we may push the wedding back. We need more time, options and (obviously) money.

Suffice it to say, I have worked out a total of ONE times this week. I know, I suck. But I've been so drained emotionally and mentally that all I've wanted to do is sleep. And maybe have a glass of wine or two :-)
In addition, I haven't logged any food since Monday. And now I can't remember back that far.

Andrew called this "an off week" which I think is a total understatement. I promise next week will be different (and hopefully, a lot less eventful)

New Developments (or, the reason for my absence)

I admit it. I took a break from blogging for the holidays. And then I just let the break drag on a little longer, and a little longer. It finally got to the point where I had been away so long, I didn't even know what to write. I would sit there with my computer and Andrew would say "why don't you blog a little?" and I'd say "okay." And then watch an old episode of The Hills or catch up on my gossip rags. I have had negative motivation to recount all of the holiday cookies, quarts of wine, and bricks of cheese I have consumed in the past month. So I just won't. That was last year.

I thought about copping out and doing one of those "end of year" reflection surveys, but I have done so much reflection these past few weeks, that I'm pretty much over it. So I'm only looking forward now. And oh boy, do I have some EXCITING things to look forward to!!

First, I didn't gain an obscene amount of weight (just 2 or 3 pounds) and all my jeans still fit, so I'm off to a great start. I need to make actual weight loss more of a priority and less of a hobby. For real.
That means taking Andrew's advice and incorporating weights into my workouts more than once a week, integrating interval training and not being such a cardio whore. (yes, it burns calories quick, but it doesn't KEEP my body burning them throughout the day).
That also means being meticulous about my food logging. No more uncounted handfuls of crackers, bites of cheese and snippets of cookies (I totally just effed this up already and had 3 bites of a HUGE delicious cookie that I have no intention of logging with my breakfast. What? It's Saturday!)

But, perhaps the most important part is that I actually have something awesome to motivate me to lose more weight---looking SUPER HOT in a wedding dress!!
Andrew and I got engaged after New Years! We're planning to get married this year (I mean we already own a house together, so why drag it out?). That means I have some SERIOUS work to do before October! Don't worry, I promise not to make this into a wedding blog.
We've done a lot of celebrating recently so that's another reason, er excuse, for my lack of blogging.

Anyhow, we've got a busy weekend: a community meeting, a kickball game, another celebratory dinner with friends and (at some point) a workout or 2. But I promise to get back to my regularly scheduled blogging.
Happy New Year, everyone!