Don't Mind the Mess!

Please don't mind the mess -- I'm working on re-doing the format, layout, and design of my blog...can't wait for the finished product! :) 

Happy Sunny Saturday!

So yesterday was an emotional roller coaster for a number of reasons and I had a horrible time sleeping last night.  My alarm went off at 7 AM for me to get up and get some things done around the house before my family comes down for a visit for Father's Day and to get ready for Spin class this morning (not until 9:30 AM).  I hit my snooze a couple times -- okay like 5 times -- and then yanked myself out of bed, with the intention that I was just not going to go to class this morning because I was too tired and had too much to do...

...UNTIL...

...YES!!!!!!!!!  I FINALLY MADE IT UNDER 190!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yes, it's just 0.2 under 190, but still, that number begins with 18 and NOT 19!  I couldn't have been happier and it was just the boost I needed to get my mind back in check and tell myself that I AM going to class this morning, no excuses!

Speaking of Spin Class, I took my first 5:15 AM class yesterday morning and I was exhausted...but I made it through and was still smiling even after.

I actually really felt good after going to the early class yesterday, I think it may become a new habit! 

Eating my steel cut oatmeal now, and of course drinking my coffee...then it's off to class and to run errands before having a great day with the fam.

Oh!  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Hershey's Bliss Dark chocolate?  It's the one way that I allow myself to still have the chocolate that I crave, but it's 60% cacao, so much better than a lot of other choices.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Dear 21-year-old Courtney,

So I decided to join the Letter to my 21 year old self Link up today

Dear 21-year-old Courtney,

This is going to be a great year!!! (So you think) 

You've got a hot boyfriend, you've basically been staying at his house every night you can, and you think you're going to get married and live happily ever after -- you won't.  You break up and are off and on for a couple years, and it sucks! Don't worry you meet the love of your life at 25 and have a great life together!

 Stop thinking life is so great and you can eat (and drink) whatever you want. Yes, you've struggled with your weight before, but right now you're the smallest you've ever been and life is great! Just wait...you'll slowly make your way to the largest you've ever been too. 

Get with the program and wake the hell up, you're letting your school and life suffer right now because you're "having the time of your life". 

This will be the year when you make a lot of mistakes, but later on you'll learn a lot from them and will be sure to never make them again. This is also the year where you start to see things getting really bad with your parents (who divorce a few years later).  

Things will go okay for the next couple years, then things get really bad. Remember how you felt at 21 when you were you're lowest weight...you will be yearning for that again and will begin working your ass off to get there before you get married and turn 30. 

Keep your chin up...you will make it through college with that Bachelor's degree in biology...be proud, you worked hard and it will all pay off (even when you don't end up with a career in the field). 

Love always,

28-year-old Courtney

P.S.  Be glad you learned how to drive a stick shift this year, you'll end up with a hot candy apple red car that's stick shift and it's part of what attracted your amazing bf to you! ;)

Here comes the sun!

Can't believe the weekend is over already!  I had a great one!  

Saturday, the bf and I had plans to go to Annapolis to go on a ghost tour, but of course I wanted to get my cycling class in that morning first. So off I went (while he was still sleeping - no fair!) and had an awesome workout! Then flew thru the grocery store so I could use my 300 bonus points when you spend $50 or more...I love my coupons and gas points...and yes, I know I'm a dork! For home, showered and ready to go and we were off. Stopped at Arundel Mills mall on the way so we could go to Bass Pro (and more importantly the Starbucks across the way)! Ended up in Annapolis about 2.5 hours before we needed to be at the tour location, so we walked around and down to the harbor area...it was a beautiful day, we couldn't have asked for better weather or a nicer time. The ghost tour was awesome and if you are ever in the Annapolis area, do it! 

http://www.toursandcrawls.com/

Yesterday was a work day for the bf, so I ended up being lazy and watching the Awkward marathon on MTV. I felt too lazy so I decided to go shopping...lol! I went to Old Navy and took advantage of the sale that @skinnymeg and @mamalaughlin mentioned and picked up this stuff for about $30...I was one happy girl!

Compression capris

http://m.oldnavy.gap.com/product.html?dn=op524135032&dv=1&shopid=1&pdn=oc5508

Tank

http://m.oldnavy.gap.com/product.html?dn=op523575052&dv=1&shopid=1&pdn=oc5508

Got back home and then decided fo be lazy again and watch my favorite movie ever!!!! 

Yes, I took a picture of the movie on my TV

Decided that I should do some cleaning at about 7:00 pm and got the living room and our bathroom cleaned and picked up. Then it turned to the cabinet of shame (my under sink cabinet) where I house all those bottles of perfume, shower gel, hair products, make-up I should have gotten rid of like 12 years ago...yeah...it's that bad! But I must say, it's looking pretty good now and I feel much more organized -- two trash bags later!

Monday...well...was a Monday...not much to say except it down poured and stormed all night! 

Here's to a great Tuesday! Off to a presentation on Super Foods...can't complain about that! :)

I am SUCH a blonde!

So I was looking through blogs today wondering why I wasn't finding anyone or anything and realized that I was signed into my old account and was commenting on others under that one...DUH!  Total blonde moment!

On to other things...I took my first spin class on Saturday and it was awesome (except for my sore bottom - those seats need to be more comfortable)!  I felt great after class and am looking forward to doing more. 

I've been tracking everything with My Fitness Pal - it's a fantastic tracking tool - if you haven't checked it out yet -- DO IT!   I still have about 130 calories left for the day, trying to figure out what to have. Any suggestions? 

I've been surfing around Pinterest a bit and finding some motivational pics and thought I'd share. Enjoy! 

Happy Tuesday!

So it's been a little since I posted anything...and that's for several reasons.

1.  I kinda fell off the wagon a bit

2.  I don't think anyone really reads or pays attention to this as it's mostly me whining about something with my weight.

3.  I've been super busy with things at my house. 

But today was a new day. I had a great "5 day weekend" and wasn't ready togo back to work, but had to. I ate fairly well today, including: 

We just joined a gym over the weekend, but hadn't been there yet...but...I KNEW I had to get there today.  I kept pushing myself mentally through the day to go home, let the dogs out and feed them, and then hit the gym. Surprise, surprise...... I.ACTUALLY.DID.IT!!!!!!!

 Warm-up on the bike

I tried to go on the elliptical for awhile, but started getting my leg pain, so switched to the bike. I felt SO good when I was done and was so proud of myself! Woohoo! What a great day it turned out to be! :)

And after all that, my fitness pal showed me this after I entered my food and exercise for the day...this is awesome!!!

Hope everyone had a great day and weekend! 

PT Day!

So today is PT (physical therapy) day! I am so thankful it has been helping my legs!

I got on the treadmill for the first time in a long time last night and not only did I walk...I actually RAN parts of it. My left leg actually held up and I didn't get any of that horrific pain - yay! :) BUT - my right leg was still giving me issues. Definitely going to let my doc know tonight and see what she thinks we can do to up the therapy on it...but was SO excited the left was better!

Worked my arms, legs, and back on the total gym for a bit too, so overall was feeling exhausted but GREAT last night! :)

So I didn't walk/run very fast, but I did 1.06 miles in 30 minutes and burned 162 calories!

Also, anyone who can offer any words of wisdom, advice, encouragement, anything would be great...would love to meet some new people on here! :)

Happy Hump Day

So I'm sitting here on a conference call at work right now and all I can think about is wanting to get home and get my ass on the treadmill and the total gym. I feel awful and huge this morning after going out to dinner and eating a bunch of wings last night. I am actually yearning to exercise so I can get this weight off and actually be healthy.

I'm sick and tired of:

Being winded everytime I walk for more than like 10 seconds

Being sore and achy all the time

Having ZERO energy

Not being able to find clothes that actually FIT

Having a closet full of clothes that I can't wear

And the list goes on and on. Just can't wait to get home and get myself in gear!

As for my food today:

Breakfast:
1 cup Special K Red Berries with 1/2 cup skim milk
Banana

Snack:
WW String Cheese
1 cup Cantaloupe

Lunch:
WW Ravioli Florentine (one of my favs!)

Snack:
Banana cream Greek yogurt (Yum!)

Dinner:
Not sure on this yet...TBD!

A fresh start...

So lately I've been grumpy, cranky, and feeling sorry for myself -- what good has that done me?  Answer: ABSOLUTELY NONE! 

I need a change, and a BIG one at that.  It's time to actually get off my lazy butt and do something about the things that are making me feel this way -- the #1 reason -- my weight and how I look. 

I've read a few other blogs with women who have committed to making a huge change in their life and have succeeded.  I tend to me one of those women who half commits and half succeeds and that's just not good enough for me anymore.

So today I'm going through some recipes, blogs, webpages, etc to get myself on track and started.  Unfortunately, that means a trip to the grocery store is in order for me later...in the pouring rain...ugh! For now, it's clipping coupons and sifting through recipes for dinners.  My other big problem -- my boyfriend doesn't do "healthy" (meaning he doesn't like fruits and veggies), so there's challenge number one.

Not sure if anyone will read this or even see it, but at least it will keep me accountable for the things that I do (and don't do that I should). 

So off I go....


“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!” 
--Dr. Seuss, "Oh, The Places You'll Go!"