Good News & Disappointments

Good news or bad news first?  I'll start with the good news because it's short & sweet.  About a year ago, I started a blog to track my wedding planning progress.  When I realized that I was writing more about working out and nutrition, I decided to start a blog geared more towards that.  I had invested a lot of time in that other blog and had also written through LC's 2nd deployment.  I had a link sending people to the new blog and never deleted the old one.  It wasn't until today that I realized that I could import all of my old blog postings!!  Thanks to the traffic tracker and whoever got to this new blog via the old one.  So so happy! It's the little things people :-)

So now, you can find a tab with all my wedding-related posts and I can reference back to older postings.  This has seriously made my day.  That and volleyball getting canceled due to weather...I've got a big "to-do" list to tackle tonight!

On the downside, and this is a hard one for me to write about, I've decided that this year I will not be running the Chicago marathon.  Major. Fail. A lot went into making this decision.  Could I physically do the training program? Defitely.  Would I have the time to do. Sure, if I set everything else that I have going on this summer aside.  Ditch out my BFF's bachelorette party because I have to run 13 miles the next day? Not this summer.  When I signed up for the marathon, I guess I never thought about how much it would have to coinside with.  And just getting through this first week of training was tough with everything else I had going on.  Run on my honeymoon?  No thank you.  There's a time and a place and celebrating marital bliss is not it.  

Another reason, I decided to pass on the marathon?  My sister will be gone for training with the Air Force.  When I first realized this, I knew this wouldn't be my year.  My sister is one of my biggest supporters.  We ran our first 1/2 marathon together and I know that if she lived in Chicago, she would be my designated running buddy.  We're really good at pushing each other.  It must be a sister thang :-) When I ran my 2nd 1/2 marathon she was there with my mom, holding up signs chasing me around the course.  Her excitement and motivation for me made that run worthwhile.  So for me to run my first ever FULL marathon without her being there just doesn't feel right to me.  

I'm dissapointed in myself, but there's always next year.  This summer, I'm going to run for fun and maybe sign up for a fall 1/2 marathon after the wedding craze has died down a bit.       

Say It, Do It {Wedding Countdown Edition}

48.  The number of days until THE BIG DAY!

source

 I started this blog as a way for me to write about working out & eating healthy, partly in preparation for the wedding and mostly because I was just tired of the way I looked and felt.  Since February, I haven't lost as much weight as I would've liked to by now {majorly discouraging}, but I've lost inches and my clothes are fitting more comfortably {So I must be doing something right}.  Final count will be revealed a few days before the wedding.  I blame this little weight-loss set back on my ankle injury & lack of calorie counting.  The fact is that I love to eat.  And sometimes I would prefer a cheeseburger and fries over a salad.  And some days, catching up with my DRV'd shows (you know, the ones I missed because I was busy working out) takes priority over exercising. Those are just the facts of my life.

In order to make the most of these last 48 days I've made some adjustments to my diet/habits.

*I will drink at least 2 nalgene bottles full of water during the workday.  I need more water in my life. 
*Eat more veggies & fruit and less carbs. 
*I will NOT go to sugarbliss between now & wedding.  Best cupcakes in the loop; I usually end up getting two. One being their special flavor.  Two being a red velvet {you know, just in case I end up not liking the special flavor}. I normally eat both :-/ This a rare occaision, but something that really needs to stop.
*Limit myself to one night of adult beverages.  If I could, I would drink wine every night of the week.  I absolutely love it.  BUT more than one glass leaves me feeling sluggish and tired the next morning, therefore canceling my AM workouts. 
* I will attend Bar Method 4-5 times per week.  I pay a pretty penny for unlimited classes, I need to go more.  The first month, I saw a big change in my body just by going 3 times a week, that has come to a standstill so it's time to up the BM workouts.
*I will run/do other forms of cardio 4 per week.  I've been pretty good about this since being able to run again.
*I will count calories using myfitnesspal.

Hopefully these little changes will help give me the results that I'm looking for.  I think the hardest one for me will   

Now for this week's Say, Do it! {AM workouts might change according to the weather}
Monday- Rest; I just had a long weekend of early morning drills mixed in with Bachelorette party fun. Rest is much needed today.
Tuesday- Morning cardio/Bar Method level 2
Wednesday- Bridal bootcamp/Bar Method Whoopsies! Slept in; no bridal bootcamp today.
Thursday- Run /Bar Method; Did the elliptical instead-the sky looked sketchy this AM
Friday- Morning cardio/Bar Method
Saturday- Bar Method/Self's workout in the Park
Sunday- Fitnessista's Spring Ab workout/Bridal shower #2! (Chicago Edition)  

Take Me out to the Ball Game!

Tonight, LC & I are attending our first baseball game of the season at Wrigley Field.  I'm usually pretty excited for our first game because it means that summer isn't too far off.  But as I look out the window, I'm not really thrilled about going to a baseball game on a rainy day.  Last year we went to a game around this time & it was freezing cold. At least the temperature is decent today.

Here's a few of my favorite "Mar & LC's baseball adventures" pics :-)

Busch Stadium April 2007

Wrigley Field (I'm thinking of going short again after the wedding. I'm dying to chop my hair!)

typical behavior...

Our first game of the season 2010

When it comes to baseball, I could honestly take it or leave it.  I love going to the games to drink, socialize & eat.  I don't even know who the Cubs are playing tonight :-/  BUT when the Brewers & The Cubs play each other, you will always find me in Brewers gear.  I have to support my home team after all.  Other than that, LC always buys me Cubs' shirts to wear to games.  Football on the other hand...you will never catch me dead in anything Bears related. ICK! I'm a Packer girl at heart.

Tonight's game eats will be a little different.  I'm trying to lay off of the carbs this week since my first offical dress fitting is Friday, I want to actually feel good and not bloated.  So no bread & no beer :-(  Just some salad and bacardi & diet...I don't know how good of a plan that is either.

Last week, I did a posting called Say it, Do it.  It really helped me stay accountable for all of my workouts.  I did everything I posted & then some!  I didn't post anything on Monday and guess what?? I canceled bar method yesterday.  Major fail. So here's my workout plan for this week.

Monday: Free weights & ab work
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 30 minutes of cardio/Bar Method
Thursday: 45 minutes Elliptical/Bar Method
Friday: 30 minutes cardio/Bar Method
Saturday: Go for a walk if it's nice (I'll be in WI ask still can't do workout videos b/c of my ankle injury)
Saturday: free weights & ab work and....Attend my first bridal shower!!!  

Say it, Do it!

Now that I'm somewhat mobile, it's time to hop back on the workout wagon!!  Jess at Fit Chick in the City, suggested blogging about her weekly workout plan to keep herself accountable.  If I put it out there that this is what I'm doing, I'm more likely to stick with it.  The same concept as setting dates with your BFF, Jim (gym).  Friends don't break plans with other friends :-)

Monday: Bar Method-check!(I think this might be helping my ankle!!)

Tuesday: 30 minutes on the elliptical DONE!

Wednesday: Bar Method, hopefully (as of now I'm on the wait-list) Cleared the waitlist!
Thursday: 45 on the elliptical
Friday: Rest

Saturday: Bar method with my sister & shop for a dress for my first shower! (that counts as cardio)

Sunday: Rest

Nothing too crazy.  I want to ease back into it this week and maybe next week we'll amp it up a bit more. I go for my first dress fitting on next Friday!

La Vida Sana

La vida sana simply means "the healthy life" in Spanish.  I chose this name because my grandpa is from Mexico, which makes me part Mexican :-) and he's always been my health inspiration.  When I look back on my childhood, I can remember my Grandpa always running around playing with my sister and I.  I also remember trying to play with his weight set in the basement.  As I got older and my grandparents moved away, I would go down and visit them and my grandpa would go running with me every day.  The man is in his 70s and has a clean bill of health.  He always taught us the importance of staying active and I will always be greatful for that.  

I started this blog because I'm getting married in July and I've been struggling to shed these pounds and tone up for the big day.  I figure if I write about my journey, what I eat every day, and how much I exercise I will be held accountable for myself.  I will be less likely to stop at SugarBliss on the way home and buy two (or 4) cupcakes because I'm having a bad day if I have blog about it and have everyone else read about it.  My goal is to lose 25 lbs in 4 months, eat as raw as I possible can whenever possible, and rekindle my love affair with running.    

*here's a picture of my grandpa & my sister. I couldn't find any of him and I that I loved. What a handsome man!

What's Your Passion?

Last night, while I was doing the blog thing, one of my favorite bloggers did a post about The Hedgehog concept. This was the first time I had ever heard of it and it couldn't have come at a better time. It involves these three elements that come together in the middle: What are you deeply passionate about? What you can be the best in the world at? What drives your economic engine?


That got me to thinking, what I am truly passionate about? I could think of things that I like to do or that I like to talk about, but are those things really my passion? And if so, how can I turn it into a career? So I asked LC what he was passionate about. He thought I was asking him a trick question :-) I re-worded my question to be, "If you could do anything in the world, no matter the amount of money, what would it be?" His response, "I'd open up my own brewery." LC and his father both love beer. His dad actually brews his own with a home brew kit LC bought him a few years ago for his birthday, and he has made some very tasty brews.


Sometimes it's hard to look at ourselves as others view us. I decided to ask my sister today what she thought I was passionate about and her response was fitness, nutrition, blogging, family & friends. I liked her response and I know that she was being completely honest with me. I do feel that I am passionate about fitness and nutrition. I truly believe in staying active and eating as healthy as possible. I'm always telling her about new healthy recipes or going on and on about how much I love bar method and my helpful tips for running. But on the other hand I love to eat, and not always healthily. I'm a sucker for Chicago-style pizza, I'm not a size 4, and some days I'd rather lay on the couch with LC and watch movies than work out. So does this mean I'm still passionate about eating healthy and working out? I don't know, I'm still trying to figure it all out.

MIA

I've been absent yet again. And one of my resolutions/goals was to blog more. FAIL! I've been super busy wedding planning and interviewing for a new job. I have two career things going on right now. One position is with my same company just a different role and the other one is a job at a completely different company working in sales. I'm most excited about the position at the new company. Stay tuned!!

I'm also in the process of working on my first DIY wedding project: Table numbers/Chicago Landmarks. So far they're turning out just as I wanted and when they're done, I will post pictures on the blog. I hope everyone's new year is going great! So far, no complaints. Just counting down the days until my love gets home!

So Long 2010...Bring it 2011!

I cannot believe just last week I celebrated Christmas. Honestly, where has this year gone? Santa was really good to me this year. I got a Flip video cam from my parents, along with some B&N gift cards for my Nook, Lululemon gloves, and other little things. From my sister, I received a super cute apron and Julia Child's cookbook, 'Master the Art of French Cooking'. I can't wait to try it out. I've recently taken an interest in learning to cook different types of foods. I've also found that cooking relaxes me and it's something I'm good at, baking on the other hand, is a different story.

My grandparents live in Arkansas and they only come during Thanksgiving for deer hunting season. That is when we do our big family Christmas with my aunt, uncle and cousins. So this past weekend was very low-key filled with lots of good food, relaxing, and quality time with the parents and sister :-)

*my mom's gluten-free chocolate cake. Turned out sooo good!

As much as I enjoyed my time off and the holidays, I'm glad they're over. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year, but I wasn't feeling it so much with LC being gone, and my family knew it. I tried to be in good spirits but it was really difficult. But now that Christmas is behind us, this means I have about a month and a half until he's back home!

Tomorrow I'm going to a house party with my BFF, Dani (she's also one of my BM's). It's been a while since her and I have spent NYE together and I'm looking forward to it. I'm loving our plans because I hate going out for NYE. I think it's so over-rated, over-priced, and under served. Pass.

2010 wasn't the greatest of years and I'm looking forward to leaving it in the past. I have a lot to look forward to in 2011 and begin a new chapter in my life as a wife. I'm not one for making resolutions, but I do set goals for myself each year. Within in this past year, I participated in my first Bank of America 8k Shamrock Shuffle, two 1/2 marathons, visited New Orleans for the first time, and started planning a wedding. The first of my Best Friends got married and another one had a baby. On the flipside, I learned who my true friends really were which resulted in losing a bridesmaid and someone who I thought was a friend. My mother suffered from random neurological symptoms, was tested twice for multiple sclerosis, and remained a "medical mystery" for months. She was finally diagnosed with celiac disease, which was actually a relief considering what it could have been.

In 2011 I plan to: get married (I'm giving myself a freebie!), visit St. Lucia (another freebie), pay off a credit card, run another 1/2 marathon, talk myself into running the Chicago marathon in 2012, visit NYC during the Christmas season.

Have a safe and happy new year everyone!