Joanna - FRIDAY!

I'm with Kami - I'm glad it's the weekend. Not entirely sure why - becuase I always seem to build the weekends up to be great and almost every weekend I feel disappointed.....I need to stop putting quite so much pressure on a couple of days.

I had Leslie do my assessment this morning and I was really happy with it. I went into it with NO expectations - just hoping not to be down and cry about it like I did last time when we were done. I have had a stall on the scale the last couple of weeks and was getting really upset about it. But this week I had a loss - a total loss from the beginning of 11 lbs. That excited me a lot!

Even better than the # on the scale is that I've had some other people have noticed a change. I had a woman I don't know particularly well comment about it to me last night and it made such a difference. She said she hadn't seen me in a while and just wanted to know what I was doing because I was looking good. It caught me so off guard and I just kind of bounced all the way home with a grin on my face.

When I got home I started looking in my closet and tried on some shirts I had bought when I was skinny a few years ago. I started putting them on just to see how far I had to get into them and almost all of them fit! Not perfectly, there were bumps in places I didn't really want - but I could get them on - and that is a huge accomplishment for me! It was exciting to see results like that. It got me so excited I pulled out my "skinny pants" from my closet. I should have done that at the beginning - I'm really excited to get back into some of those clothes! Cute skirts, jackets, capris....And I didn't look at it like stuff I'll never wear again - I was looking at all of them in a different, more positive light. And I'm looking at clothes in stores and I'm actually excited to shop in a couple of months for some new spunky stuff. :)

Ok - food today:

1. breakfast smoothie
2. cottage cheese with Mrs. Dash tomato/basil/garlic seasoning (YUM! taste like some kind of a filling for a rich pasta dish - it was yummy!), small orange and carrot sticks
3. protein bar and celery sticks
4. turkey rolls & green apple
5. ?
6. ?

I'm grateful that BOTH of my boys are sleeping right now. My poor little Gabe has taken naps the last 2 days for the first time in MONTHS. He was sick yesterday and I think he still has a bit of a funk. He was waiting for me to get a movie put on for him and fell asleep on my bed. Poor little guy. But while it's quiet - I'm going to take a couple of deep breaths because those kids have worn me out today :)

Happy weekend everyone!

Joanna

Learned something (or was reminded of something) this morning: Not working out makes me grumpy! I have had some yucky pain in my right ankle the last 2 days. Kept me from running yesterday with Leslie so I decided to get in some cardio last night. I could only last about 7 minutes on the treadmill running but I was determined to finish my 2 miles - so I walked the rest. The walking felt better than the running - but still hurt a lot. After I was done it hurt more than when I had started by quite a bit. Then this morning it hurt a bunch too. Felt better when I iced it - but wasn't going to let me workout. After talking to Leslie decided to let it rest today and see if I can do anything tonight and hopefully tomorrow. Makes me mad because my last 4 workouts with Leslie went really well I thought and I felt like I was getting back to the swing of things.

Anyway - I have found that today has been a tough one for me; and I really think it's because I didn't get the blood pumping this morning and get those healthy endorphins. I keep thinking about that brain scan picture Leslie shared with us and remembering how much better the exercised brain looked. I am pretty sure if you were to do a brain scan on me right now you'd see all kinds of grumpy colors. (My kids would attest to that too!) Hopefully this can be resolved soon - I like the happy Joanna better.

Food today:

1. protein bar
2. turkey w/ laughing cow cheese and orange
3. green salad, cottage cheese & apple
4. spinach wrap with chicken
5. chicken noodle soup (wheat noodles) & string cheese
6. celery sticks & fruit/yogurt smoothie
7. LOTS of water!!!

Gratitudes - that we live somewhere with seasons, bedroom doors (so we can have a *little* quiet at times, endorphins.

Joanna - 2-23-10

So this morning Leslie kicked my trash with a leg workout. WOW! We did squats with weight like there was no tomorrow! I always cringe a little when I think we are at the end of a set and she says, "I lied - we're doing ___more." And then we did lunges until I was pretty sure my legs were going to fall off. They still seem a little shaky this afternoon! But it also felt awesome - and I love days like that!

I have a big goal this week to drink more water and eat more veggies. I just measured out the water bottle I've been using lately and I had thought it was a 20 ounce bottle - felt good to know it was actually 28 ounces. So I've been drinking more than I thought :)

Today's food:

1. fruit/carbmaster smoothie
2. Adkins peanut butter protein bar (YUM!)
3. tuna salad with veggies & 1/2 alternative bagel
4. cottage cheese & orange
5. lean hamburger with brown rice & salsa with green salad & 1/2 serving of this great dressing (If you like peanut flavor or thai food - this is SOOO good. It has enough flavor that you don't need to even use very much of it!)
6. jerky or turkey slices with apple

Gratitudes:

• Opprotuntites to think outside of myself - so often it's easy to get caught up in our own lives and not slow down to help others.
• Kids who are affectionate and love to give hugs and kisses. Those cute little boys of mine can be rambuncious, but they are the sweetest little boys when they give their hugs and kisses through the day. I'll miss that someday I'm sure!
• My strong body. I love when I'm working out and feel strong - and when it's reinforced to me by others it just feels awesome.
• The ability to turn a possible diet sabotage into a positive thing - I made my kids peanut butter sandwhiches today and I started having the biggest craving for peanut butter and was worried I'd cave in. I realized I had a protein bar with peanut butter in it and I was so excited. It felt good to still satiate that craving - but in a healthy way!

Joanna - Thursday

Wow - what a difference a day makes! Yesterday Monday-Wednesday I felt like a wreck. I felt weak - physically and emotionally. I was grumpy, I felt sick - all around just felt poopy. I still ate clean, but my workouts were 1/2 hearted and pathetic.

Then today I had a feeling as I headed to Leslie's that it would be the same thing. I dreaded it. But it ended up being awesome! I ended up wanting to stay and work some more, wishing I'd pushed it a little harder on the weights and feeling a burst of energy. It was like I was back! I loved the rush of energy I felt and it's carried on through the day. It's been awesome! Sad that it took till Thursday to get that....but still felt awesome!!!

Food for today:

1. berry and carbmaster smoothie (When I open my fridge after my workout and see my husband has made me one of these I just about cry every time. Such a small thing - but fills up my love tank big time!)
2. cottage cheese & orange
3. string cheese, yogurt and carrots
4. ?
5. Healthy sushi & side salad
6. Protein bar

Gratitudes:

• I am grateful for mid-week dates with my hubby (going to a movie and out to dinner tonight - and I feel giddy like a school girl - I'm excited!)
• I'm grateful for reset buttons - the chance to just reset and move on. We all need those in life sometimes don't we?
• Belts - I have been fighting with this particular pair of jeans lately and Cory keeps suggesting I just wear a belt. I did today and I feel a lot better :) (I normally hate belts - but it feels better than pulling at my jeans all the time.
• I'm also grateful for moments where I get to share this journey. I love feeling the excitement of sharing it with my friends and family and feeling like the excitement of what missionaries must feel. Knowing something works and having a "testimony" of it. I have felt like that a few times this week as I've shared my feelings about this journey with "non-members". :)

One last thing - if you're not on Leslie's thread @ t.com, or didn't take her up on her challenge to us today - take a second and make a list of 5 areas you've made PROGRESS in. We're not aiming for being PERFECT - we're working for progress. We've all made it - so think about it for a second and list some of your progress. Here's some of mine:

1. I am feeding my body healthy, clean food every day.
2. I have gone out to eat a couple of times only to choose healthy options. Before starting this I would have given in just at the sight of junk food. Choosing clean food and healthy portions was empowering!
3. Most weeks I am exercising 5-6 times a week. This is compared to 0 times per week before - BIG progress.
4. I purchased a new shirt this past week in a smaller size and after wearing it a friend said it almost looked too big on me. Felt great!
5. My depression and anxiety levels are down SIGNIFICANTLY. Getting a glimpse each day of improvement in this and it feels amazing - better than any of the physical benefits.
6. I have cut down my diet soda habit considerably. I haven't cut it out completly (wasn't my goal) - but I have gotten down to much smaller amounts, and later in the day. It is empowering to know that I don't have to have a soda in the morning to get going and I love that I don't go into our local convenienc store at all anymore - it feels powerful each and every time I drive past without stopping!

Anyway - I hope you all have a fantastic rest of the week!

Ahhhhh.....Sundays are hectic days at our house. Somehow that time getting my 2 boys out the door for church puts me in such a grumpy mood. I hope to work on that and someday enjoy getting to church with my kids....but we made it today - and that is a victory - right?

I've been feeling frustrated with things lately - and although I know I'm doing the right things, the exercise and eating clean - I'm just wishing I was seeing the outward results quicker. In my mind I should be further along in the journey.....although some of my clothes are getting looser I have others I got o put on and think they should be looser and they aren't yet....then I start second guessing what I've done wrong. I know it's a long-term program (or at least 18 weeks) - but I keep feeling like I'm 6 weeks into it - and wish I was seeing more outward results. I did read a page out of the "Body For Life Champions" book this weekend talking about how week 8 and 9 are when a lot of people feel like they magically start seeing results. I'm hoping that is the case and that I can pump it up a bit till then.....

I was also wondering about supplements. Do any of you take additional supplements? I'm not trying to builk up at all - just want to build the best lean muscle I can and wonder if I should be adding some nutritional supplements to help that. Any suggestions?

Ok - here's my plan for food today:
1- alternative WW bagel & cottage cheese
2 - protein shake
3 - brown rice with lean ground beef & salsa
4 - tuna and carrots
5 - egg beaters omlete with whole wheat toast
6 - apple with turkey/laughing cow cheese rolls

I am grateful today for the beautiful sunshine and gorgeous blue sky. I'm also grateful for the awesome Olympics - I feel inspired by the athletes and want to be a champion in my own life like they are. What awesome stories and energy!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day and good luck focusing on the relationships and love rather than the treats

Joanna - 2-11-10

I haven't posted in a few days - it feels weird. But I've been sticking on track, eating right and getting my workouts in. In fact - that's probably part of why I haven't posted - I've been so sore this week from the Tuesday leg workout I haven't been getting on my computer as much. I still feel like I'm walking like a pregnant woman (you know - the awkward stage where you waddle, move all weird and every movement takes major exertion?). Hopefully I'll get a day or 2 without hurting before we have another killer leg workout.....(did you ear that Leslie - take it a little easier on our leg workout tomorrow).

This week I had an exciting day where I had been pulling at my jeans all day long. (I hate wearing belts). That night I realized I could pull them clear off without even unbuttoning them. That was kind of exciting :) Since I've been optomistic before I happen to have several pairs of jeans in my next size down so I'm excited to wear them (new with tags on them!) in the coming weeks.

Food:

1. fruit and protein yogurt smoothie
2. beef tacos on corn tortillas
3. cottage cheese and rice chips
4. tuna salad (Sweet & Spicy tuna mixed with chopped carrots and chopped celery)
5. veggie soup and cottage cheese (?)
6. apple & jerky

I have BUNCO tonight so I'm psyching myself up to not eat goodies there. I have an easier time in public settings than when I'm home by myself. Especially if people know I'm working towards something like this - because then I guess my pride steps in and I don't want them to see me cheating. So let's hope I'm good tonight. I'm worried that if my kids don't calm down a bit I might be a little high-strung when the time comes and I hope I don't eat out of stress.

I'm really excited because I've been going back and forth about going to Dallas for the last few weeks. I'd decided no, I couldn't - then I'd still keep looking at ways to make it work. Last thing was that I had decided I was going to shoot for the Vegas or Denver conventions later this hyear. But today my husband told me he'd been planning on me going and really wanted me to make the trip. (I think he knows that if I truly do this Transformation and become my best self - I'll be a lot more fun as a wife and mom.) He's even trying to make it work that he'll come with me. I'm so grateful for his support, his belief in me, and his ability to dream big. I think in our relationship I'm definetly the one who sees all of the limits and he's the one who can dream and see our lives getting so much better. I'm grateful for that. I'm excited to be doing the Love Dare too - picked up my book today and I'm looking forward to it!

6 words for you.....

I HATE LOWER BODY WORK OUTS!!!

(More later - just had to get that out....)

Joanna - 2-5-10

Yesterday was a tough day for me. I was just rundown, hungry, grumpy....but instead of trying to eat enough to help me in all 3 departments I didn't eat much at all. (? I don't really know why - it was a weird day). Anyway - by the end of the day I was starving. It was a good lesson to me to keep up on meals so I don't make dumb decisions.

Does anyone else feel like this is just continually a learning experience? I know at some point it will seem natural and normal, and I'll do it as easy as breathing - but right now I'm not at that point. I wish I could figure out the perfect mix of cardio/weights/protein/carbs/timing of meals - I just don't feel like I have it all together yet. Wondering at what point I actually will.....I'd love to hear everyone else's honest feelings on how they're coming along with it being natural for them.

Food today:

1. yogurt and carbmaster yogurt
2. lean cuisine
3. orange & cottage cheese
4. string cheese & apple
5. hamburger & rice with green beans and small green salad
6. ?

Today I'm grateful for sweet moments with my kids. I spent a good part of the afternoon doing puzzles with my 2 year old (over and over and over again). Everytime I'd hand him a puzzle piece he'd say "hanks mom!" - over and over. It started to get old, but after a million times it was really sweet. I realized that his sincerity was the same the last "hanks mom" he said as his first. I loved that he wasn't doing it out of obligation - but was genuinely grateful. I want to be more like my kids in that regard. (And in lots of other ways too!)

Excited to see everyone tomorrow. Looking forward to it being over :)

Joanna 2-4-10

There are just some days when my kids make me nuts. I love them, I really do - but somedays I just need them to stop talking!!!!!

Today's workout kicked my fanny. I feel like I say that every day.....I guess that's a good thing. There was a point when I was doing jumping squats when I had to ask Leslie if I my feet were even leaving the ground - I felt like I had NO momentum. The next time we came around to that exercise (we were doing circuts) she said, "Ok Joanna - strength + speed = POWER". I just burst out laughing. The idea of making my exhausted legs do anything at all - especially something resembling "strength" or "power" was comical. It was either laugh or cry..... :)

I'm really dragging today all around. Just didn't feel like I got off to the best start. I started out really hungry and haven't been able to curb my appetite either. And I'm not just hungry for cottage cheese and carrots.....I'm craving naughty stuff. I keep telling myself Saturday is coming - but I'm still longing for bad food. I had to give in and make some homemade oven baked fries (which technically were still legal) and they helped....but I hope I can stop being so darn hungry. (I did only make one potato worth and I had it with cottage cheese). I honestly don't feel like this very often - so when I do it makes me a little nuts. Here's hoping I can stick to some kind of a plan the rest of the day.

Food:

1. Adkins protein shake
2. baked fries with cottage cheese
3. spinach and turkey wrap w/ side of carrots
4. apple & jerky
5. ???
6. protein bar

I'm grateful for days when my hubby helps around the house. I realize how grateful I am for those days when an off day happens and he doesn't do the things he normally helps with. Like today - my dishes are piling up in my sink because the clean dishes in the dishwasher haven't been emptied. Anyway - I'm focusing on being grateful for the help he does generally give me.

Joanna 2-3-10

So I thought of something really exciting today after running my 1st 5k. The fact that I am going to be the last one across the finish line is actually a GOOD thing. Being last means that EVERYONE will be there to not only cheer me on in the end - but to take pictures to prove I did it :) So if you're going to be there Saturday please cheer extra loud and bring a camera!

So I did the 5k today. I had every issue possible - I felt like a stinker full of excuses - shoes needed tightened, my muscles were killing me, thought I was going to throw up, ended up with a blister from new running shoes (ended up tightening them TOO tight - go figure). Anyway - when it was done (45 minutes later) I was still alive, and I think that's a great thing. I'm really nervous for Saturday, but it's all for fun (and the sweet Make-a-Wish kids) - right?

Food today:

1. Carbmaster yogurt and fruit = smoothie
2. yogurt & string cheese
3. lean cuisine
4. cottage cheese & orange
5. Spinach and turkey wrap and side of salad
6. carrots & something.....

Today I am grateful for listening ears - people who understand and listen to my troubles.

I'm also grateful that while my kids are generally messy - they aren't always as bad as they've been today. I'm pretty sure my house looks like a tornado has hit.

Joanna - 2-2-10

I am dragging today....I'm feeling my arm workout from yesterday and after this morning my legs are still a little wobbly. I'm tired, but it's a good tired - a worn out from working hard tired and not a sluggish feeling from eating wrong and not taking care of my body. I'm grateful for the difference.

Today's workout was tough. I felt strong for most of my HIIT run and then my legs felt so weak through my LBWO. I just felt like I was about to crash on the floor after every lunge. Whew - it tough. But it was also awesome.

Leslie and I also looked over a training schedule for a 1/2 marathon and I'm in. I'm going to sign up for the Bryce Canyon 1/2 July 17th. If any of you want to join me it would be awesome. With the training schedule that Leslie showed me it's totally doable from this point in time. I'm actually looking at the Summer Games 10K in June to warm up for it - and any of you are invited for that too.

Food for today:

1. Atkins protein shake (I tried this for the first time today and I really liked it. 15 grams of protein and 150 calories. The carbs were really low too. I tried strawberry and it didn't have a yucky taste - it was just like a strawberry shake!)
2. cottage cheese and orange
3. spinach and chicken wrap
4. apple and string cheese
5. Schwan's Marco Polo chicken with broccoli
6. protein bar

I'm grateful for supportive people in my life - family, friends, online support - with good support we can do anything!

Clean cars - I LOVE washing my car till it's sparkling and clean. Now if it could at least stay that way till I get home from the car wash.

Colors - think of how dull our lives would be if there wasn't any color in the world. So grateful for colorful sunsets, sunrises, the beautiful colors of my kids eyes.

Joanna 2-1-10

Well after a kind of rough day yesterday I was grateful to start fresh today. I'm not going to beat myself up over having an off day yesterday - just going to forge ahead :).

Food Today:

1. fruit and carbmaster yogurt (made into smoothie - my hubby added some protein powder, but I'm going to avoid doing that because it adds more protein than I need and extra calories).
2. spinach flat out wrap with spinach and chicken (check out the flat out wraps here - the light ones are great - only 90 calories, full of fiber and even 9 grams protein! I have bought them @ Lins - they are in the bakery/deli area - at the top of the shelf between those 2 sections - above some rolls.)
3. cottage cheese & orange
4. either protein shake or 1/2 protein bar
5. wheat pasta with sauce and light hamburger, spinach salad
6. other 1/2 of protein bar

My focus today is to write down not only what I plan to eat - but what I actually eat. I'm also writing down the times I eat - hoping to help me get the meals in that I need to. I've actually put together a little food tracking sheet that is almost the same to the one in the back of the Body For Life book (if any of you have seen that). If any of you are interested in a copy of it let me know - I'll email it to you. It's just a planning sheet that has spots to track your plans, and then what you actually eat. And spots to mark off that you got enough servings of proteins, carbs, veggies, water. I'm a visual person and it helps me to glance at it and remember what I need to finish up with. Anyway - leave me a note in the comments if you want me to email it to you. :)

Upper body circut was tough this morning. Leslie said, "we're going to do 8 rounds" and I about died. We only made it through 5 (and still went way over on time) - but it was still tough.

Grateful today for libraries - isn't it awesome that we have such a wealth of knowledge available to us? On my list of careers I'd love to have "someday" would be to be a children's library worker. I love childrens books and reading with my children!

Joanna - 1-29-10

Ok - I've struggled so far today with being positive. I wasn't thrilled with my results and I need to do the same thing and remember that it does take time. I read a quote by Thomas Paine today that said,

"That which we obtain too cheaply we esteem too lightly." --Thomas Paine

This is hard and that's because it's worth it. If we work hard at it we will be even more grateful for it later in life as we're able to share it with others.

But I am realizing that my accomplishments are both physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional. Truthfully the results I've had mentally this month far out-weigh the physical results. I was at an UGLY place before starting this and though I'm not at 100% of where I want to be mentally and emotionally - I can't believe how far I've come in just 4 weeks. My self talk, my attitude, my optimism and hope for something better, my desire to help others feel good too - I feel like that is where my triumph has been.

Today's food:

1. cottage cheese & yogurt
2. carrots and protein shake
3. tuna with veggies and bagel
4. protein bar
5. soup and roll, green salad
6. ?

I think this past week I haven't been great at following through with what I planned to eat. I don't eat crap, but a lot of times I skip meals, or even replace with a healthy alternative (but not as healthy as I COULD be eating.) I also haven't been great about including enough veggies in my diet this last week.

I'll see you all tomorrow morning. Thanks ladies for being a part of this journey - you are all AMAZING!!!!!

Joanna 1-28-10

Feeling great this morning. After spending a good part of the day yesterday icing my hamstrings I got feeling worse - they were cramping up even more. So I stretched and stretched and hopped on my treadmill last night at like 9:00. It felt so good! I ran a while but then they started feeling really sore again so I walked the rest - felt good to get in 2 more miles after having already done 2.5 that morning. Then I stretched, stretched and stretched some more and slept better than I have in months. It was hard to get out of bed after sleeping so well....

Today I'm still SO tight in my hamstrings, but it felt awesome to run some - in fact running felt better than some of the bending and lifting I do just through the day :)

Food today:

1. eggs and toast (have you guys tried this bread? It's pretty *light*, but it's good.)
2. protein bar
3. tuna salad made with carrots and celery
4. apple and string cheese
5. homemade soup with hamburger and rice....maybe a whole wheat roll?
6. ???

Lots to do today and it feels great to have attacked the day with exercise first. Doesn't it feel fantastic to have that done and out of the way?

Gratitudes:

1. conversations with others when they just get it too...when you share, you talk, and you help each other. I had several of those yesterday that left me with tears of gratitude.
2. snow shovels and a husband who normally takes care of that....but grateful for the extra workout I got doing it this morning :)
3. visiting teaching - I start visiting some new people today, with a new partner and I'm excited!

Joanna 1-27-10

Well I wish I was getting on here to scream and shout about my success doing a 5k on the treadmill today.....but instead I'm getting on to say I think I'm injured and had to walk the whole time. Bummer huh? I am pretty sure I've done a little more than just wear out my hamstrings - I'm starting to worry I might have done something more to them. They hurt to the touch, they hurt to stretch - the just HURT. Luckily my little boys are going to my mother-in-law's for the next few days so I am sitting in my bed (and scrapbooking) putting ice on them off and on and hoping I'll be back and ready to go soon. If anyone has any advice I'm open to anything - so share what you've heard works.

Food:

1. bagel & cottage cheese
2. yogurt & string cheese
3. lean cuisine
4. protein shake
5. tuna salad with celery and carrots & apple
6. protein bar

I'm hoping to make it through these next few days and eat healthy...like I mentioned - my kids and hubby are gone for the next few days. Normally I would be excited about some quiet time, time to not have to prepare meals for them, clean things up, stick to any kind of schedule....but I think normally that would also involve eating junk food, some meals out - indulging. So I'm hoping I won't eat out of the desire to indulge, or out of the fact that I'm alone. I'm trying to be aware of the situation and not eating out of boredom. Wish me luck.

Gratitudes -

1. Snowy weather on days when I don't have to drive in it. It really is beautiful!
2. Drinking water - we've had some water issues the last couple of days (now resolved) and it's so great to have yummy tasting water from the tap again!
3. The gift of prayer and knowing someone is listening.

Joanna - 1-26-10

I'll echo Mindy's comments - HOLY HAMSTRINGS! This is the most sore I've been the whole time - I can hardly walk. I can't believe that I'd feel so sore from a few sets of dead lifts....but I truly feel like I'm walking like a 90 year old lady - and forget trying to bend over for anything....

I was really disappointed in how I felt in my run today. I felt great yesterday, but today I just hurt. I hurt all along it and I kind of wimped out. I had a really hard time breathing, saw stars, got dizzy, thought I was going to throw up...yeah - it felt lousy. Here's hoping tomorrow feels better and that I can pull it together.

Food today:

1. fruit/yogurt/protein shake (my hubby has started making these for me every morning while I'm working out. It helps me so much to have something he hands me as I walk in the door from Leslie's - love him!!!)
2. hamburger with brown rice, added green beans and some ketchup (not the *best* choice, but not the wrost either)
3. apple with peanut butter & beef jerky
4. cottage cheese & ?
5. cabbage salad with chicken
6. protein bar

Gratitudes:

1. FRESH air! I have my bedroom window open right now just because the fresh air feels so awesome. My house heats up like a sauna most days and on a nice one like today all I want is to let in some fresh air and breathe it in. Ahhhhh!
2. HOT baths - I could live in the bathtub. Give me a great big water bottle (or diet Dr Pepper - I won't lie), a good book, some music, a candle, maybe my laptop set up with movies on it....and I could just move in.
3. Quiet time. My hubby is taking my boys up north to my mother-in-law tomorrow for a few days. She's been begging to spend time with her grandkids, my hubby was heading up that direction anyway - and I get a few days of absolute quiet. I have a feeling I'm going to miss them right away, but I also know I won't miss all of the noise....

Joanna - 1/25/10

Food: (edited to go with what I ATE instead of what I planned...often different...)

1. Protein shake
2. cottage cheese & rice chips
3. chicken/bean soup, whole wheat roll & carrots
4. apple & string cheese
5. taco salad
6. protein bar

Leslie pushed me to a speed I didn't think I'd survive today when running - but I made it! It felt so great the first time we did it - I could feel my lungs expand with every breath. It felt great when those speed bursts were over too. And my hamstrings got worked over doing the dead lifts...but that felt good too. Felt like a great workout today!

Lots to do today, but I enjoy the fresh start Mondays give us. Here's hoping for an awesome week!

Joanna - 1/22/10

I was frustrated with the whole working out situation this morning. My hubby went back and forth about 300 times between last night and this morning, "I'll be home to watch the kids for your workout." "I'll be out working on snow removal and won't be back - make other plans." Drove me crazy. I had finally told Leslie I wouldn't make it and then right after my normal workout time I was on my treadmill and he showed up. UGH! So I'm sorry I didn't make it Leslie.

I did go on my treadmill and kicked butt - I was curious if I could do it as long as I wanted to and I did! I did 2 miles in 30 minutes. (for Leslie's benefit: 3 min @ 3.5 - run 5 min @ 4.2 - 2 min @ 3.7 - run 5 min @ 4.5 - 4 min @ 3.7 - 4 min @ 4.2 - 3 min @ 3.7 - 4 min @ 5.0!!!) Then I did 5 sets of deep squats (Cory kept telling me I wasn't going far enough down) for 30 seconds at a time - 10 second breaks. He said he'd help me - but he didn't push me long enough - he stopped @ 5 sets and I could have totally done more....I did 4 minutes of calf raises too. Anyway - I know it wasn't the workout I would have gotten with Leslie - but it felt great to have done the running on my own without Leslie there to talk me through it. I felt really good about that and good that I pushed myself more than I would have normally. I certainly sweat a bunch - so I always think that's a good sign.

And from there on - my day got hectic and crazy. Trying to keep up a good attitude but I'm kind of cranky and tired and need to get some healthy food in me...

Food:

1. protein bar & carrots
2. lean cuisine (I need to eat less of these - but they are portion controlled and I make sure to get ones with at least 18 grams of protein. Helps when I'm in a hurry and wouldn't eat healthy otherwise.)
3. protein shake made with fruit
4. cottage cheese and apple
5. Chicken chili soup and whole wheat roll (this also isn't the *best* meal I could eat - but we're having friends from out of town over and it was something I could cook in the crockpot, reasonably healthy and sounded delicious). I'll probably try to fill up with some green salad too...
6. ??

I must admit I am looking forward to my free day. For me though it's actually more about not keeping up with the 6 meals and not having to PLAN what I'm doing every step. I haven't been obsessing over anything in particular that I want to eat. But I do have a yummy breakfast planned and a very small batch of cookies I want to make.....I'm going to work on being in control still and not letting myself emotionally eat. I love the saying, "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels."

The funny thing is that my son is catching onto free days. He asked me the other day if I could eat something and then said, "Oh yeah - it's not Saturday". In fact - he is OBSESSED with fruit snacks - he has eaten them almost every day of his life. He recently made his own goal that he won't eat them on school days or Sundays (so the other 4 days of his week are fine). But I liked to see him making that goal himself - it was cute.

Oh - and I had Cory get my scale out (he has it in hiding so I don't obsess too much - I can weigh in on Fridays only) to weigh in after my workout and I'm down a total of 6.4 lbs since starting!!! I was excited about that - but it's the non-scale victories I'm trying to focus on. I put my jeans on yesterday and they were quite a bit looser in the waist - that was exciting! The #'s on the scale only tell us part of the story - but as we're adding more muscle to our bodies we'll see other changes too. Isn't it so exciting!?!?!?

I noticed yesterday that I really just felt strong and pulled together. I don't know if it was that my pants were feeling loose, or if the workout just felt awesome - but I felt great! I still had some moments of frustration with a few things - but I didn't get down on myself about them. I had kind of an "I can do anything!!!" attitude and felt mentally AND physically stronger. And that right there makes all of this worth it.

Love all of you girls and the hard work and effort you're putting into things! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Joanna - 1/21/10

Hey ladies!

I put on my jeans this morning - and they were looser! It's given me a bounce in my step and made me feel like this really is working! I'm starting to see my abs again (still have so far to go - but at least I know they're there!), I can feel a difference - and I love it!

Food:

1. fruit/yogurt/protein shake (thanks again to my hubby - sure love him!)
2. Lean Cuisine (this one is YUMMY!)
3. Protein bar
4. cottage cheese and yogurt
5. ???
6. ???

Today I DEFINETLY reached burn out with my muscles!!! But I LOVED the rush of adreneline and blood I could feel rushing into my muscles afterwards. We'll see if I'm excited about it tomorrow when I can't raise my arms up....

Gratitudes:

1. My hobbies - I love being creative and making the digi scrapbook stuff I do. I love the feeling of accomplishment after finishing a new project and I'm grateful for the creative teams I get to be on.
2. Water - I'm so glad I'm getting into the habit of drinking more water again! I don't know what I've been doing this past year as I've dehydrated my body....
3. SNOW! YAY - so excited to be looking outside and FINALLY seeing it come down.

Joanna - 1-20-10

I keep telling myself I need to get on here and post my food - but then I get distracted. And I kept saying I wasn't going to eat until I got on and PLANNED. Luckily I gave into hunger before that happened. Here's today's food:

1. protein smoothie made with carbmaster yogurt, protein powder and fruit
2. green salad with a little oil and vinegar dressing, onion alternative bagel with cream cheese & turkey.
3. pear & beef jerky
4. cottage cheese with rice chips
5. leftover stirfry from last night
6. protein bar

Feeling great today - emotionally. However, I feel like I rode a horse for the last 2 weeks straight - everything from my knees to my waist hurts. Good hurt, but it's getting worse by the hour. It's funny to me how I feel a workout 24+ hours after more than right after. But I keep walking around like a cowboy who has been in a saddle too long and I've avoided the stairs as much as possible today. But I felt great to do cardio for 30 minutes, felt like I'm catching on a bit more to the running and pushing through my side cramps a little longer each time.

You know what? I love how we learn little things about ourselves in places we wouldn't expect to. For instance - I have always said that I hated to workout out with other people. I've always claimed that I work better when I don't have to talk to others, that I do better on my own at my own pace. But I'm finding that the best way for me to run harder/further is for Leslie to sit and talk to me through our workouts. If she talks to me through running - I will go longer. I don't know if it's because I love to talk (which I do....) or if it's because when she is engaging me in conversation I actually breathe better than if I'm quiet and to myself. When I am talking it's natural for me to work harder on breathing. I also know that it keeps my mind off the pain/discomfort when I'm focusing on a good conversation. So all these years of thinking I like to run/walk/etc on my own....I think was flawed. Now if I can just find someone to sit next to my treadmill and talk my ear off every day - I think I can keep up with this. :)

Gratitudes:

My husband! I'm grateful for his thoughtfulness this morning when he made me a smoothie and had it waiting when I got home. To me that smoothie was worth much more than a dozen roses or any expensive he could have bought. To have supported me with a healthy breakfast and have it waiting - made my heart melt.

Clothes in my closet. I'm grateful that I have some stinking cute clothes in my closet that at some point I'm going to fit into again :) It gives me something to look forward to in the weeks/months to come.

Legos - I am so stinking grateful for the inventor of Legos - finally a toy my 4 year old will entertain himself with for hours!

Have a GREAT day ladies! You are all inspiring to me and are all such awesome people. GROUP HUG! :)