Listening to My Body

24 Feb

I haven’t worked out since Monday. In my college days, skipping three days between workouts would make me cringe.

I haven’t gone to the gym in three days, because I’ve been feeling a little under the weather. I can tell when I’m getting sick, and the aches and exhaustion showed up a few days ago. Thankfully, in the past year, I’ve gotten much better at listening to my body. The “old” me would’ve ignored my symptoms and continued on to Zumba class on Wednesday. The old me would’ve stayed up until 11:00 on Thursday to “get everything done” (aka blog, Pinterest, etc.), but the “new” me knows better.

I think I learned my lesson when I attempted to work out a few days after my shoulder surgery. Not my proudest moment. Since then, I’ve tried my best to notice when my body’s telling me that I need to rest. Work’s been beyond crazy the past couple of weeks, so it’s no wonder that my body wants me to slow down.

The past two nights, I’ve been in bed by nine, asleep by 9:15. I think I need to incorporate this new bedtime into my life all of the time, because today, I feel sooo much better! I’ve also been taking multiple doses of Airborne a day. If you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend it. I’ve taken 4 or 5 doses since Wednesday, and I feel much more like myself today.

Finally, as I mentioned above, I’ve been saying “no” to the gym. It’ll be there when I feel better, and taking a few days off isn’t going to hurt me. I think I even feel well enough to do some light cardio tonight! If I had worked out when I felt rundown and achy, I’d probably be sick today.

Listening to my body has paid off. Now I just need to get through this day so I can get to the fun stuff I have planned this weekend (read: food tasting for the Wedding!). TGIF!

Do you listen to your body?

What do you have planned this weekend?

 

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WIAW: Fat Tuesday Edition

22 Feb

This month’s What I Ate Wednesday might be veggie-themed, but looking at yesterday’s eats will make you think otherwise. I took this year’s Fat Tuesday very very literally, but with good reason, kind of. You see, this year for Lent, I am giving up sweets. All of them. No more chocolate in my oatmeal, no more Dove chocolate after lunch, no more ice cream after dinner. I’m giving it all up. Cold turkey. The only sweet things I will allow myself are granola (which sometimes contains chocolate), and a can of pop with pizza (once a week). Everything else will be off limits.

Needless to say, I made sure to binge splurge as much as I could yesterday.

I started my day with a plate of homemade chocolate chip pancakes, with a few chopped walnuts thrown in for good measure.

Chocolate chip pancakes are often my go-to breakfast, so I’m going to have to get a little more creative over the next six weeks. I’m going to miss that kick of chocolate in the morning!

For lunch, I went to Paradise Bakery to grab something to go. I ended up with a cup of tomato basil soup, a small fruit salad, and for dessert- a coconut chocolate chip cookie. Paradise has the best cookies, and they come “free” with every meal, so it was something I wanted to treat myself to before I give it all up :) .

My lunch kept me full throughout the day, so I didn’t even touch the snack that I brought for the afternoon, a mango Chobani yogurt. It’s probably a good thing too, since I had a dinner date planned with my sister after work.

We went to my favorite Mexican restaurant and started with chips, salsa and guacamole.

I probably could’ve made a meal out of that, but I also ordered two beef tacos to accompany my chips. They do not shy away from cheese!

And of course, Fat Tuesday wouldn’t be complete without ice cream. I ended the evening with a chocolate covered strawberry blizzard from Dairy Queen, and it definitely hit the spot.

Yesterday was an indulgent, sugar-filled day, but I have to admit that I’m kind of excited to cut out the sugar in my life.  If I can make it through the next 40 days, then maybe I can exend the challenge even further? We’ll see ;) .

Are you giving up anything for Lent?

Did you do anything on Fat Tuesday? I think I proved that healthy living bloggers eat junk too. If you say you don’t, I don’t believe you ;) .

Wedding Planning: What I’ve Learned So Far

20 Feb

1. I don’t care  know nothing about men’s fashion.  On Saturday afternoon, Jordan, my sisters, my mom and I had two wedding-related things to take care of- the bridesmaids dresses, and the tuxes. I picked out my bridesmaids dresses online before I was even engaged I picked out my wedding dress, so that was an easy stop. The girls were measured and the dresses were ordered within a matter of minutes. The tuxes, on the other hand, were a little stressful. We had to look at tie patterns, vest patterns, fabrics, and colors. We had to decide if the guys will wear a pocket square (they’re not). We had to decide whether the pants should be pleated (most are, Jordan’s aren’t), whether the shirts should be microfiber (they are), and more details that you couldn’t even imagine. An hour or so later, we had picked out three different tux styles…one for Jordan, one for the groomsmen, and one for both of our dads. Needless to say, I am happy that we can check that not-so-small task off the to-do list :) .

2. Unless it’s the very last minute, I am not a detail-oriented person. I guess I should’ve known this about myself. In college, some of my best papers were written within an hour of the deadline- I work better under pressure. Since the wedding is still five months away, the pressure hasn’t kicked in yet. My mom is asking me about church decorations and table numbers and cupcake decorations- and I’m just not quite ready to think about it yet. We have all of the big things done, and that puts my mind at ease. I just have so many little things to think about still.

I’ve got my eye on these…

3. Family is a huge help. Thankfully, when I don’t feel like thinking about the little details, my mom and sisters do. My mom has been a huge help in getting wedding-related things done while I’m at work during the day. I really don’t think we’d have the wedding planned without her (seriously). She’s been able to negotiate prices, order sample cupcakes, book a block of rooms for guests, schedule a food tasting, etc. etc. etc. I don’t have much of an interest in event planning (my biggest concerns were my dress and the photographer), so it’s nice to have other people help me stay on task!

4. Pinterest is my best version of a wedding binder. When I got engaged, a lot of people told me that I would need to start a wedding binder- a place to keep all of the wedding plans organized, something to keep myself sane. But you know what? I’ve never been a binder person. So far, I have a small collection of contracts and information in a notebook, along with some ideas I jotted down. Everything else is on Pinterest. It’s such a convenient place to keep my thoughts and dreams (yes, dreams). If I find something I really like (like those cupcakes), all I have to do is print it out…instead of printing every single thing out and keeping it in a big binder. You could say I’m helping the environment too :) .

I sent this photo from Pinterest to the florist…potential bridesmaid bouquet!

Wedding planning has had its ups and downs, but I think everything is coming along nicely. Ask me how I’m doing in a couple of more months…I may give you a different response ;) .

 

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Sad Day

16 Feb

My laptop is broken. No- it’s dead. Its time has come. I suppose it was bound to happen, I’ve had it for over 5 1/2 years. I just never thought the day would actually come. On Monday, right as I was pinning something to Pinterest, everything went blank and a hard drive error appeared on the screen. I showed Jordan yesterday, and all he could tell me was, “that’s not good.” Great. He talked to the IT guys at his work, and they said that there’s a 90% chance that they’ll be able to recover my files (I have nothing backed up- smart, I know), but after that, it’ll be time to move on.

Needless to say, my heart hasn’t really been in blogging this week. I like to multitask from the comfort of my couch or bed, and sitting at a desktop computer just doesn’t give me the same kind of motivation I need to write a post or comment on other blogs. Is that weird? I know I’m lucky to still have the convenience of my parents’ desktop computer, but I need to figure out what I want to do next. If you can suggest an affordable, but durable, laptop, please do! I had a lot of problems with my Dell over the years, so I’m not sure I want to go in that direction again :/.

On a happier note…who’s glad that the weekend is almost here? I know I am :) . This weekend, my sisters are going to Alfred Angelo to order their bridesmaids’ dresses, and since the tuxedo store just happens to be located next door, Jordan and I are going to go pick out the guys’ tuxes. I know I haven’t talked about wedding planning on the blog in awhile, but the good news is, everything seems to be coming together nicely! I’ll dedicate a couple of posts to wedding-related things in the future- I have a lot to talk about!

Before I go, I want to leave you with this post from Ashley at My Food N’ Fitness Diaries. If you’ve ever felt self-conscious about your body (and who hasn’t?), then it’s definitely worth a read!

Source

I think we can all agree with that?

Have a great one :) !

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Valentine’s Day Chocolate Bark

14 Feb

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope that all of you are spending it with the ones you love. On Sunday afternoon, Jordan and I were finally able to talk for a few minutes. He surprised me when he told me that he’s coming home tonight, not tomorrow! I know he’s going to be exhausted, but I’m hoping that he can stop by for a little bit- if for nothing else then to pick up this special treat that I made him:

Valentine’s Day Bark

6 squares Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate

6 squares Baker’s white chocolate

Pink food coloring (I used the gel kind, found at Kroger)

Valentine’s M&Ms

Valentine’s sprinkles

1. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate in the microwave for 2 minutes, stopping every so often to stir. Spread it (thinly) onto a lined (I used waxed paper with non-stick spray) baking sheet, and let set in the fridge.

2. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave for 2 minutes, stirring every so often. Once melted, put in as much food coloring as desired, and stir.

3. Spread the white chocolate mixture on top of the hardened semi-sweet chocolate, then top with M&Ms and sprinkles, pressing the toppings into the chocolate so they stick.

4. Put the baking sheet back in the fridge, and let set.

5. Once the chocolate is set, break into pieces, and store in a container (I put mine in the fridge).

I know that the day is coming to an end, but if you’re still looking for a quick Valentine’s gift, I highly recommend this. Since it’s cold here, I put my baking sheet outside for the chocolate to set, which saved a lot of time. It tastes good too (of course I had to try some :) ).

Okay, well I’m off to eat dinner and finish my laundry (so romantic, I know) before Jordan gets home. Enjoy your evening!

 

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A Very Family Valentine’s Day

12 Feb

With Jordan out of town, my Valentine’s Day plans (at least any romantic ones) are non-existent. I’m okay with that- we’ve been dating for a long time, and we don’t need a Hallmark holiday to celebrate our relationship. That doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy red and pink hearts and a night out on the town, though! So this weekend, I made it a point to celebrate Valentine’s Day (weekend) with my family- I kind of love them too ;) .

On Friday night, my sister and I had a dinner date at our favorite sushi restaurant. It was nice to hang out and catch up with her. With our busy schedules, we barely have time to talk to each other during the week!

Since we were starving by the time we got to the restaurant, we each started with a ginger salad.

The ginger dressing makes the salad…I could literally drink a cup of it by itself…that wouldn’t be gross or anything.

After our salads, we split an order of edamame and veggie fried rice.

And for the main course, avocado and cucumber rolls.

You think we’d be full after that Japanese feast for two, but we were both craving something sweet. Since the only frozen yogurt place in town just happens to be located right next door to the sushi restaurant, we decided to walk next door and enjoy some! I ate mine before taking a picture, but you can take my word for it- it was good :) .

My sister date continued on Saturday, with a trip to the movies to see “The Vow.” It was a good movie, but I was little disappointed in the lack of details and abrupt ending. It’s still worth seeing in the theaters, but the romance is lacking a little- definitely not as good as “The Notebook.”

When my sister and I returned home, my parents had a Valentine’s themed dinner planned for the family.

Heart-shaped pizza! That, of course, is when it was almost gone, but it began in the shape of a heart :) .

And for a special Valentine’s dessert… ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.

How cute is that? We only get DQ cake once or twice a year, but when we do, it is so good.

I think I’m all Valentined out…for now, at least. My Valentine’s Day treat ideas are piling up on Pinterest, so I might bake something today. And I still haven’t talked to Jordan since he left, so today, all I really want is to hear from him!

Enjoy your Sunday!

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day?

 

 

 

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Fitness Loves of the Week: Planks with a Twist

10 Feb

I’m so happy that it’s Friday, I could sing Rebecca Black! I said “could” ;) . This week went by surprisingly fast; I can’t believe it’s already time for my second edition of FLOW!

As of lately, I’ve been getting more and more into body toning/strength training classes and DVDs.  Jillian Michaels is my go-to when I’m at home, but I’ve been trying out some classes at the gym too. I have to say, I’m beginning to like it! A cardio-only routine can get pretty stale, so it’s good for me to throw some weights in the mix- my own bodyweight included!

One of my favorite (and tiring) new moves is the knee bend, or “plank with a knee to elbow twist.” If you’ve done level 2 of Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred, you know what I’m talking about. Jillian, of course, throws the move in at the end of the workout, when you’re already drenched in sweat, ready to fall down and take a nap. Not so fun. But last night, in my Boding Toning class at the gym, we did three (or four? I can’t even remember) sets of “running knee bends” in the middle of class, when I wasn’t as worn out. It was difficult- in a good way.

The exercise targets the abs, obliques, shoulders, arms and back. It’s a total body workout in a few small steps! Check out this helpful tutorial (note: I don’t do the walking across the room part- but if you want to, go for it!):

 

 

The next time you workout, try incorporating three 30 second sets into your routine. Go at your own pace, and keep your abs in tight. In no time at all, you’ll get a total body workout. You’ll be feeling it the next day- believe me :) .

Have you tried planks with a knee to elbow twist?

What’s your favorite strength move, using your own bodyweight?

 

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Long Distance Love

8 Feb

I haven’t talked to Jordan- at all – in a whopping 2 1/2 days. I’m already going crazy. He’s currently in Germany on a business trip, and I have no idea when I’ll be able to talk to him, if at all, before he comes back- one week from now.

The funny thing is, my relationship with Jordan began from a distance. I was going to college in Indy, and he was at another school, an hour and a half away. In our early stages of dating, we got to know each other over the phone. We didn’t kiss, or even whole hands, until our second month together. Things developed differently than they would have, had we lived closer to each other.

Hanging out at his apartment, nearly 3 years ago- why do we look so young??

In the beginning, we saw each other every couple of weeks- usually just for a Saturday night date. Sometimes, it was torture to wait two or three weeks to see him; sometimes, it was nice to have space. We were both taking a full load of classes, involved in extracurricular activities, and busy with our friends and family. We had other things to focus on besides our growing relationship.

As time went on, we fell in love. A year and a half passed, and Jordan graduated from college.

At that time, he moved back home to begin his career. I, on the other hand, was entering college as a fifth year senior, and still had homework and the pressures of school. The extra time we wished we had when we were apart? It suddenly felt like a burden. How much time were we supposed to spend with each other? Was it okay to stop our nightly phone calls? These were the random things we struggled with.

Eventually, we found a routine that worked for us. I graduated from college and entered the working world too.

Longest day ever-I was exhausted by the time we took that picture

Without homework and the stress of school, we found more time for each other. We still don’t see each other everyday, but we text, go to the gym together, and plan dates for the occasional night out.  No more long drives, no more long phone calls, no more citing “absence makes the heart grow fonder” over and over and over ;) .

Except for this week. This week, we’re back to square one. I’m remembering how it feels to be away from him, how it feels to wonder what he’s doing, how it feels to watch our favorite TV shows alone.

I suppose it’s good that I get this week of alone time before we get married. I can watch as many episodes “Gilmore Girls” as I want. I can blog, blog, blog without any questions :) . And this weekend, I can sleep in, clean and lounge the day away.

But next week, when Jordan comes home, I will be more than happy to see him, just as I was when I anticipated his arrival on the weekends, three years ago.

Time flies.

Have you ever been in a long distance relationship?

Has your significant other ever traveled overseas without you?

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Goals for February

7 Feb

Thank you for your comments on yesterday’s post. I think the message that we should gain from it, is that all of us can do anything we put our minds to. Doesn’t it feel like it could be a very good month ;) ? I think so. Okay, enough with the cheesy stuff.

I realize that most of my January posts were a little depressing. It kind of happens when you are getting over the holiday excitement, lose your grandpa, and have the winter blues. But, I promise that I’m finally getting back in the swing of things. For awhile, I was spending the majority of my weekends watching TV in bed. And until tonight, I hadn’t hung out with my friends since the beginning of December. Where has the time gone?

The thing is, in-between all of the sad stuff, a lot of good things have been going on. Jordan and I booked our honeymoon, we found a house (!), and the wedding plans are coming together. I’ll dish about the details later, but for now, it’s time to discuss my February goals:

1. Volunteer- When I was in college, I volunteered once a month with my honor society.

Packing boxes at the food bank

Volunteering at a nursing home

It was a rewarding way to hang out with people from school, and it usually turned into a fun social event. But after college, my volunteering stopped. Completely. I want that to change. This week, I’m going to take a look at some volunteer opportunities in my area. I want to be signed up by the end of the month!

2. Get Healthier- I’m an emotional eater. I have been eating way too much sugar (my weakness) lately. This month, I’m going to do my best to wean myself off of sweets little by little. I’m also going to get back into my 5-day-a-week workout routine. I crave exercise like I crave chocolate- it’s my stress reliever- but I haven’t been doing as much as I could. For my own well-being, I need to get back into my regular routine.

3. Take a Leap of Faith- About two months ago, I started a Teach for America application. Today, I received two emails reminding me that the final deadline for applications is on Friday. I’m debating whether I want to write the essay- the last part of my application- or if I want to let it go.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss working with kids. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to do something more rewarding with my life. I’d be lying if I said I’m not confused about which direction I should take. If my path in life isn’t Teach for America, it could be something else. We’ll see.

4. Make More Time for Friends As bad as it sounds, it’s easy for me to lose touch with friends. Most of my weeknights are spent at the gym, before I come home, eat dinner, watch TV and go to bed. My weekends are spent with Jordan and our families. Not to mention, I enjoy my alone time. But tonight, I made time to have dinner with two of my good friends, and it was really nice. We decided that we need to plan to have girl time more often. It’s easy for us to get wrapped up in our own routines!

Yes, my goals are one week late, but I’d say they’re still attainable. Things are looking up :) .

What are your February goals?

Do you volunteer? If so, where?

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I Can Do Anything

6 Feb

I wasn’t planning on doing it. For a moment, I didn’t want to do it. Didn’t think I could handle it. I felt my nerves kicking in, my hands starting to shake. I gripped Jordan’s hand tighter and made him tell me that’d it’d be okay. My aunt told me to remember that my grandpa always believed I could do anything. My grandma told me to think happy thoughts- to think of the wedding. And with tears in her eyes, she said it would mean so much to her. So much to her, if I read the poem aloud.

So I did it. At 23-years-old, I stood in front of 115 people and read my first eulogy.  The church was quiet and people were crying, but somehow, I managed to get through 3/4 of it without crying. At the end, I broke down. I paused too long between sentences, giving myself time to think about what I was saying, what I had wrote. Later, my sister’s boyfriend joked that my tears were perfect timing- I guess I wasn’t the only one who lost it at that moment. I managed to improvise, finishing my sentence, and getting back to my pew as fast as my heels would move me. I didn’t want to break into the ugly cry in front of that many people.

It was more difficult than my driver’s test, more difficult than my college applications, more difficult than my first surgery. But I did it. I read what I had written aloud, displaying my emotions for 1oo-something people to hear.

And it made me realize- I’m stronger than I give myself credit for. Family members I barely know came up to me and hugged me, thanked me. My cousin- my seemingly fearless, go-with-the-flow cousin- told me I was brave.

If I can do that, I can do anything.

Thank you, Grandpa, for allowing me to realize that.

 

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