So my life has been pretty busy lately and my journal has not accurately reflected it. Time to play catch-up, I suppose.

( Biggest Loser 6.3 )



( School )

( Confession )

So I guess that's my life in a nutshell, at least right now. More soon. :)

...but another status update...

(In case you can't read it White Goodman is saying "Can you smell the fitness?")

So today was not awesomely productive. I likes the interwebs too much to tear myself away when I'm not at work. But I did manage to kick my ass at the gym. And figure out some stuff on my computer. And get a little bit 'o cleaning done.

So....I caved. I bought the Jillian DVD set. I can't WAIT until it gets here as I'm jonesing for some kickboxing but can't stand Billy Blanks anymore. The original Tae-Bo, before he was a celebrity, were great. He was encouraging but not annoying. I find him annoying in all of the new stuff. Blech.

I did my last 1.5 minute intervals today. Moving on to 2.0 starting Sunday  (next scheduled workout). Not sure if I'm "ready" but the whole point is to push myself, so I'm pushing myself. I'm straying from my original plan of bumping up my intervals every week and doing it every two, but right now I feel like this is a good pace for me.

My new armband ROCKS!! It is infinitely more comfortable and much easier to use the clickwheel through. Now if only I can find that damn reciept for the other one so I can get my money back (or I guess I could just get store credit and see what I want at Best Buy...but I'd rather have the money).

For those of you that wear running shoes--if the ankle supports ever bother you or rub blisters, try Avon's Friction Control Anti-Blister Balm. It's great stuff. It works. The supports on my new shoes were bothering just one foot, so I started using this stuff (I wear short socks) and it's awesome. Find yourself an Avon lady! (All of their foot care/pedicure stuff is awesome actually.)

I don't have much else to say really. My life is pretty much work, lj and the gym as of late (and not even as much of the gym as I would like, but the sun is coming up earlier so hopefully that will change). Hope everyone is having a good week. More soon!

These are my new running shoes. And they are fabulous. They are bouncy--I bought them and wore them to the gym about an hour later and they were great!

And I ordered a new armband for my nano. I hate the one I bought. I'm hoping I can return it, and if not, I'll probably put it up on Amazon. After I get my new one. Hopefully this week. I got a notice that they mailed it this morning, so hopefully this week. yay!

...you almost fall on the treadmill at the gym and tell your boyfriend you almost Bette-Sue'd.

Seriously, I am addicted to The Biggest Loser. This season is great--Jillian and Bob and no Kim. The twist is that the contestants are in pairs to start--they came with their friend, parent, sibling, etc. I've definitely chosen favorites--Bette-Sue on Team Pink. Jackie & Dan of Team Orange/Tangerine. This (especially since the writers strike) is about the only tv I actually watch on a regular basis.

And seriously, I did almost bite it at the gym today. I was doing my warm up walk and I lost my focus (I was futzing with the armband for my iPod) and damn near landed against the wall. Thank god I was walking (not that I can focus on anything other than the clock or the tv when I'm running) or I would have hurt myself. I just kind of caught myself before I could fall and kept going. I laughed about it.

Oh, and people look at me funny because I've been listening to the Jillian Michaels podcast while I'm working out and I laugh out loud at her. I don't care. I tend to make a jackass of myself at the gym. As long as I'm getting my workout, I don't care. If I'm entertainment for others, bonus. :)

First: SNOW!

It snowed on Sunday, which meant my party for the store was postponed (date to be determined). But I was off and spent the whole day inside my house (which became like a very warm snowfort). And now it is snowing again. Big fat snowflakes, which I love. Fun to watch from inside, and (though I don't do it very often) fun to play in (they make great snowballs and snowangels and snowmen).

Second: Biggest Loser Finale

I've waited 2 days, so if you don't know by now you probably don't care anyway and I"m not ruining anything. If I'm going to be ruining something for you, stop reading...now. Skim down to "Third".  'Kay, thanks.

I can't believe that only Jillian's team made it to the finale. I was psyched but disappointed for Bob, because I like Bob. And everyone looked great at the finale (at least the ones I cared about did). I'm happy for the Germanakos boys (Jim and Bill). Really I am. But I wanted Julie to win. I thought that Isabeau would because she had the potential to lose the most weight (if I recall, she was still heavier than Bill in the last episode). They all looked great, but I really wanted Julie to win. And Hollie--Hollie looked great. I'd love to look like Hollie at the finale. But I think the girl needs some therapy. She had to move back to LA and completely isolate herself from her loved ones to do this. That can't be healthy. She looks phenomenal (even Matt was like "DAMN!") but at  what cost?

Third: Kick-Ass Workouts

After an admitted slump at the gym Emme's got her groove back. Listening to Jillian Michaels (what else is new) has restored me. I've shaken up my routine, started running intervals (Matt says 'how can you do that? it's so boring!' to which I say 'how can you ride the bike?'). Changing up my resistance training routine. Keep the body guessing.  It's been great. I've had two amazing workouts (and one I wasn't even trying that hard). My muscles are achy in that great way again. I can tell I'm doing something and that's awesome.

Fourth: Shopping in my closet.

I've hit the point in my weight loss where I can shop in my closet--through the things I haven't been able to wear in oh, a year or so. It's great. I've got new stuff to wear to work. Unfortunately I don't have any new bottoms (okay, I have a skirt I can wear again). I can wear a pair of jeans I haven't ever been able to wear (long story short, I trusted the size markings, didn't try them on, kept them as motivation). So I spent a good chunk of the morning trying stuff on, throwing stuff that's too big in a bag for donations. I'm still in that weird between-sizes stage (which is okay, because I can't really afford to go shopping at the moment) but I hope to splurge on a spree for my birthday in February. Still, I'm happy.

Okay, that's about it for now. More soon. :) Merry Christmas everyone, if I don't post before. :)

I had an AWESOME workout today. My diet has been so fucked up lately. But I hit the gym hard today, and I'll hit it even harder on Thursday. Hell yeah.

That said, BIGGEST LOSER!



Okay. I'm out of words. (And beer is taking effect...Emme sleepy.)
More soon.

I wish all workouts could be this good. Seriously. I wish that I had an hour and a half to 2 hours to devote to the gym every time I go--or at least on lifting days. I rocked so hardcore. I pushed myself for a few more reps, 5 more pounds, anything I could do today. I tried a couple new machines. I did a full 45 minutes of cardio (which I love having the time to do). I love few things more than being a disgusting, smelly, sweaty mess after a workout. God it was awesome. :o) My work schedule is seriously f'd up this week because of the holiday, so hopefully I'll get a few more of these awesome workouts in.

I've been doing okay the past couple of days. Trying to get up the gumption to go to the gym this morning. I was remarkably not sore yesterday, despite boosting the weight on nearly every machine when I lifted on Tuesday. Sweet ass. And I'm pleasantly sore today from doing crunches on the incline bench yesterday. Didn't feel like it was doing much when I was doing them, felt like I was using my hipflexors more than my abs, but from the dull ache this morning I can tell I did do something. Very cool. I like being a little sore after a workout. It makes me feel like I accomplished something.

Okay, I'm off to accomplish something today.

**EDIT**I can't get the picture to add correctly. I'll just post the link *sigh*

when I lose 15 pounds I'm ordering these...

http://www.bodyc.com/catalog/1599/ce8a7986cf6899d948d8b343db6b3fbf

...totally rocks my socks off. Or it would, if I wore socks to do it in. But I love it. I did the Basic workout and the first additional ab workout today (to get out some frustration) and I know I'm going to be sore in that good way tomorrow. I love it! :o) Okay, I need to shower and get ready for work. Hoo ah.

More later...

So here's the whole story, since I have a little more time (two and a half hours) than yesterday (though I still have quite a bit to do during that span)...

Matt came up late, late on Friday, we went to bed. Saturday we hung out, Matt made me waffles for breakfast, went to see "The Incredibles" which was fanTAStic!! I LOVED it!! I can't wait for the DVD (or at least for the theatrical re-release with outtakes). And I have tentative plans to go see the new Bridget Jones on Saturday. I can't wait. But I digress, we went to the movies, then drove out to Rocky River to get dinner at one of my favorite restaraunts ever, Danny Boy's Pizzeria. It was really good. Then we came home, watched some TV and went to bed.

Got up on Sunday, showered, finished packing up our stuff and the car and left. The ride was enjoyable. We talked a lot and listened to music and all the stuff you do in a car on a long ride. Our hotel was fantastic, we rested and enjoyed the room for awhile when we got there, then went out to explore a little. We had Thai food for dinner at this great place with fantastic atmosphere. Loved it. Then we (being dumb) walked up towards the lake where it was effing freezing and then walked back to the hotel. Monday we lounged around, then went for a walk. We had Borders Friends & Family coupons from our friend Erin, so we walked around trying to find the gigantic Borders we'd seen the day before. After a Jamba Juice (something that could get me to give up my diet coke addiction if I could have it all the time) and a trek back in the right direction (we'd been going in the wrong one) we got to the Borders. Yes, we went to Chicago and went to a Borders. Shut up. After that, we went back to the hotel for a spell, then went out for dinner before the show. Dinner, while good didn't agree with me (though I didn't know this until we were at the show). Neither did the two beers Matt had agree with him. So while at the show both of us had some interesting gastrointestinal pyrotechnics going on inside us. But the show was good. When we finally got back to the hotel we just kind of lamely collapsed into very sick heaps on the bed and passed out. Tuesday we got up, showered, packed up and got out of dodge (feeling much better than we had the night before). Back in Elyria we watched some Eddie Izzard (Matt bought "Glorious" at Borders) and then met up with two of my girlfriends for appetizers at Applebees. Then Matt left.

That catches up the weekend. Today I've been very productive--I worked out (more on that in a minute), made hotel reservations for Matt and I for after Andrea's wedding next Friday, made my appointment with the princess doctor (fun, fun) and updated this, all stuff that was on my to-to list today. Whoo ah.

Yoga Booty Ballet kicks major butt! I suck at yoga. I do. I don't have the upper body strength to hold most of the poses (how sad is that?) but I'm looking at it as a fun challenge. The rest of it is so much fun and the abdomial work really kicks. It feels so good. That's probably my favorite part of the whole thing. I'm lovin' it. :)

Oh, and the new thickburger at Hardee's sounds revolting. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Have a good one kids, catch ya later...

My new DVDs are on their way! The site finally updated the status of my order, and it's local now, so I should have it this week. Yay! 'Cause I did Tae-Bo this morning, and it was okay but I still want to roundhouse kick Billy Blanks in the head. So I'm glad my new DVDs will be here soon so I can actually look forward to working out. Yay!

I've been productive so far. Here's my day:
-breakfast (always a dilemma)
-check email and ljs
-workout

Next I will:
-shower
-clean my room
-talk to Matt
-get ready for work

Hoo ah. More later...

Forgot that Matt works a crazy ass shift on Thursdays. Ooops. Hopefully we'll get to talk to eachother later.

Went to karaoke last night. It was fun. I needed a night out with my girls. And yesterday was perfect for it because I was in a great mood.

I don't have too much to say right now, but I wanted to put something in before work and re-start something I used to do back in the day...

the How Far Have You Gone? meter. :)

10 miles since 29 June 04...