Blogger Fail...;)

Wow, blogger fail!!! I have totally neglected this blog! Good thing I don't have any followers...LOL!

So, what's new? Well, I've tried some new fitness options. I tried a kettle bell class on Monday. I liked it, but my back is hating me. I have some lower back issues and it has been exasperated lately anyway. Kettle bell did not help. I think I will put that on hold...at least until I get some of the weight off and strengthen my abs. (My back feels much better when I'm thin and fit...surprise, surprise!) So, I have been thinking about changing gyms because mine is pretty spendy. But, I'm now leaning towards sticking around. Here are the facts: 1) I am comfortable there. It's a nice, clean gym and I have gotten into a routine there. 2) I LOVE their Club Dance class! Even yesterday, when my back was hurting and there was a sub teacher and I was feeling meh about it, I pushed through the whole class. I'm not really sure that class could be replaced somewhere else, and its a whole hour of major calorie burning and fun. 3) My gym is literally in walking distance. This helps me get more steps in for the day AND gets my muscles warming up pre-workout. It's convenient and helps me make the decision to go. 4) The steam room. There isn't one at the gym closest to me, but I am thinking of paying to extra $10 to go to any of the gyms. I LOVE to sit in the steam room after a good workout. It is like a reward for hard work, plus it's good for the complexion and helps with detoxing. If I remain with the Courthouse gyms, I will be going to the other gyms often, as they have bigger and better dance classes. Then, I can take advantage of steaming.

Okay, what else....Oh, I am going to try acupuncture. There is a free clinic on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month and I am going to check it out. Maybe it can help with some of the lower back pain. Plus, I've heard that it just makes the body feel amazing while it's being done. I'm excited to find out for myself. YAY!

I've got a project going...last weekend, we bought two dining room chairs from Goodwill. (After reading about nutrition/fitness/healthy living, I decided that I wanted us to start eating at the dining room table. However, it is usually covered in junk and we didn't have chairs that went with it. So, I wanted to give it a face lift and make it a lovely place to enjoy a meal together.) Anyway, we found two wooden chairs that I could spruce up and paint. I am trying to mix some vintage mint green into my red kitchen because I think the colors look darling together, so I decided to paint the chairs mint. I bought some primer as well because I wanted to give them the worn look and have a white layer underneath, plus I thought it would help me avoid a ton of sanding. I painted two coats of primer on the chairs, but there were spots where it almost seemed like the previous stain was bleeding through. Plus, it was peeling off really easily. So, I started sanding them down. The seats are now completely sanded, down to the bare wood, and I am going to try roughing up the rest. I will also sand any spots that were "bleeding". Needless to say, this project has turned into far more work than I anticipated. BUT, I think I am almost ready to start painting again. I sanded in sessions for two days. (A girl's hand can only take so much of the power sander at a time). I am ready for that bang effect that makes me happy I did the project...cause it is getting a little drawn out.

Then there are the things I need to get done...my man is going go nuts if I don't do something with these tomatillos I have sitting on my table. He doesn't even like them and they just keep sitting there and I keep insisting I am going to make salsa verde, yet it hasn't happened....Plus, I have a list of other chores I want done, but don't want to do...hrrmmm. On that note, I should probably get on it!

I'm going hiking today! Opal Creek, here we come! I'll post pics a more later...YAY! :)

Tried a new recipe for chicken last night...and it was delicious and HEALTHY! I found it on Pinterest. I will say that it didn't turn out quite this golden brown but still yummy!



Ingredients:
4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup parmesan cheese - grated
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

(I added some paprika and onion powder based on my own tastes)

Directions:


1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2) Combine greek yogurt, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and pepper in a bowl.

3) Line baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.

4) Coat each chicken breast in greek yogurt mixture and place on foiled baking sheet.

5) Bake for 45 minutes.

So......I got myself a Fitbit Flex yesterday! I am super excited and hoping that this will be a burst of motivation to get and keep me going. I'm still figuring out all of the tools it has, but so far I thinks it is rad and I'm loving it!

Also, I started back on my workouts yesterday. It's getting real! :) I have the Color Run to train for. I was just reading some posts from people who have been. It made me so stoked! It sounds like so much fun! I can't wait to be blasted with color! Go Smittened Kittens!!!

And...I get to go to the zoo today! I LOVE animals and haven't been to the zoo for a while. (Plus, it will put some extra steps in my day, as I will be walking around a lot). So far, this day is looking good!

So, it is time to get down and dirty about my purpose for the blog I suppose... I have come across several blogs that have been sources of inspiration to me as I move through life. Those of particular helpfulness and knowledge are related to weight/fitness/healthy living. I have read other women's stories of their struggle with weight and have been hit with the raw realness of them. These ladies have exposed themselves fully to their readers, putting their feelings out there in way that is incredibly relate-able for other women in the same position, such as myself. So, they are my inspiration for the blog; so that maybe others may benefit from my voice.

I have always struggled with my weight. About a year ago, I had it under control. I was where I wanted to be. Strong, fit, and looking...but better yet, feeling AMAZING! It's a funny thing though, how stress creeps in like a silent slithering snake, coiling around you until everything you had to give is sucked out. This one sure was a surprise. I thought I had nailed my dream job, the one I had worked hard college years to attain. But, what I discovered was that, while I loved parts of this "dream job", it sucked the core of life out of me...and I am not okay with that. That being said, stress and lack of energy to push myself worked together to help me gain back all of the weight I had rid myself of and then some.

So, I have ridden myself of the job, looking forward to moving into something that doesn't make me sacrifice so much of myself to retain. But, I'll be honest. I am in a weird spot right now. For years I felt sure that my previous career choice was exactly where I wanted to be, so I'm a little lost now that I am starting from scratch. BUT...I am ready to find myself again! Physically and mentally. I am struggling to find the motivation that I had when I lost the weight last time. However, I'm coming to the conclusion that I may need to stop searching and create something new that motivates me. I am in a different place in my life and that old motivator just may not work anymore.

While I often feel disgusted and like I have let myself down about my body, I do need to focus on the positives in my life right now...and there are many. First and foremost, I have the MOST AMAZING boyfriend. He is a constant supporter of me and ALWAYS makes me feel loved and adored. I have never felt so comfortable with someone in my life, and I was married for almost 5 years! And, physically speaking, we found each other when I was at my hottest and now I am far from it. But, you would never know it looking at our relationship. He loves me so genuinely! I appreciate that SO SO much! Next, I have some fantastic friends! One gal in particular is in a similar place with weight, etc. We have really bonded through this and she has become such an incredibly important part of my life. Together, we are going to reach our goals! In fact, we have both signed up for the Color Run in October, (OMG that's creeping up), which will be our first event like this. (Time to get into gear!) Another one of my best chicks has been there for me through some really hard times and helped me understand that I deserve the best. She inspires me to push myself as a person and to expect the best from people. If she lived closer, we would SO be fitness buds. Plus, I have a loving family that cares about me. I could go on and on, but my point is...I have a support system in my life and I need to remember to be thankful for that.

Okay, I am closing this one...more to come :)

smitten~

Smitten means overwhelmed or struck by something, usually love. The way you light up every time the waiter comes over to your table, it’s obvious you’re smitten with him.

Smitten is related to the verb smite, which comes from the Old English smitan, meaning “to hit, strike, beat.” What do hitting and beating have to do with love, you may ask? Well, when some people fall in love they report feeling as though they've been "struck by lightning."

Figuring out this blog....I want to decorate!