Numbers Time Again

Last night we did our weights, measurements, and pictures again. Let me tell you , it is quite an experience! We get our pictures done in a pair of workout shorts and a sports bra. I don't even like looking at myself dressed that way! Anyhow, there is a guy who takes our pictures each month. The first time was very intimidating. But he has such a great personality and is so encouraging that now it is not so bad.
Well, last night I was feeling a little apprehensive because it seems the weight loss has slowed down lately. However, I lost 7 1/2 pounds and 15 inches!!!! I was very happy. We have 2 more months left of WVBL and my goal is to lose 18 more pounds. I know that I can do it. I just need to commit to journaling what I eat and doing my a.m. workouts. Don't know how successful I'll be at that until school gets out, but once we're on Summer break I will have no excuses!
We have added spinning classes to our workout program. Let me say this: I hated my first class with a passion! I had shooting pains in places you really don't want to have pains. Every minute of the class was pure torture. But I decided to give it another try this week. There was a different instructor and she had a much better personality--think not a bee-yatch! There was still a lot of sweat and pain, but I made it through the whole class and decided I can do it. So, now I am a spinner, also.

May Day

I cannot believe that it is already May. I am really a slacker when it come to blogging lately. I could lie and tell you that my life is so full and busy that I cannot find a spare moment to blog, but that would be, well, a lie. There are a lot of things I haven't written about yet.

• New House I finally decided to join the grown-up world and buy a house. With the $8000 incentive for new home buyers, it is crazy for me not to. However, this whole process has been an eye-opener. FYI . . . just because a home is bank-owned and listed at a dirt cheap price, it is not necessarily going to go for that low price. Apparently the banks are listing them low and expecting people to get in a bidding war for them. I had found an absolutely perfect house, put in an offer, had to give my best and highest offer, and then waited--very impatiently--for over a week, only to find out they had gone with a higher offer. I was disappointed, but everything happens for a reason. There are several more I want to look at this weekend, so hopefully I will have good news to report soon.
• School 15 more days!!!!! I think that says it all, after the year I've had.
• Swine Flu This has been all over the news this week. I'll admit, there is a part of me that hopes that we get to have a week off, due to the health department shutting us down. However, that means we'd have to make up the days at the end of the year. I have had 7 kiddos out this week, not with the flu, but it's very strange to have so many gone at once. I am curious to find out what they all have and hope they are feeling better next week.
• WVBL This has been going really great. Tonight we all had a BBQ and Kickball game . . . beer at 2nd base :-) I have made some really great friends in this group and driving home tonight I was actually sad thinking about when we are done in July. Sunday we have a challenge at Fitness One. We get to bring friends and family and challenge them to different events. I really need them to have wall-sits be one of the events because I really kick a$$ on them. When we started the program, I could sit for 1:40. A couple of weeks ago, I could do 16:09. It seems that my weight-loss has slowed down lately and I'm trying not to get discouraged. I know my shape is changing, however, because I have very few clothes that fit properly anymore. Clothes buying isn't any fun yet because I am so between sizes that nothing works. Very discouraging.

If you stayed with me through all of that, thank you and you seriously need a life :-) I will try to update more often, so my 2 faithful readers can stay current with my oh-so-exciting life. Hopefully next time there will be some positive news on the house hunting situation.

Just a Ramble

It’s that time of month again . . . no, not that! We had our weights, measurements, and pictures taken last night. It wasn’t quite as emotional this time . . . I shed no tears. First, my disclaimer is that I decided to go ahead and weigh in at night, rather than having to get up early today and go do it. I know for a fact (not that I am weighing myself at home or anything :-)) that I weigh 4 pounds more in the evening than I do in the morning. So, that being said, I was down 4 pounds this month. I also lost 12 inches!!!!! Holy crud, that’s a foot gone from my body this month. Granted, it is a cumulative total from all over, but it still is a foot! I had my pictures taken, also, but those are classified information.
I don’t think I mentioned that we played Paint Ball a couple of weekends ago. It was so awesome! I am definitely glad that I am not responsible for actually protecting anyone’s life in a real war situations since I basically suck. But I had a great time. It was funny to see the difference between the amateurs and those who think they are Rambo. Here are the before and after pictures. It looks like we killed off half the group during the night.

We also walked (yay!!) on a 5K last Saturday. It was the MDA Stride and Ride around Tempe Town Lake. The weather was beautiful and it was neat to see so many people there walking for someone special. A few of us got our picture with Big Red. The alternative was one of the Cardinals cheerleaders and I, for one, don’t need to be in a picture with them. Talk about a blow to your self-esteem!
Next Saturday is our midway event. I can’t believe we are halfway through the program already. I am so hopeful that when it is over I will have the tools to continue this on my own. Anyone want to sign up to be my motivational buddy?

Happy Birthday Gramps

Tomorrow would have been Gramps' 85th Birthday. Last year his birthday fell on Easter and we were all together. There was nothing that made him happier, or got him more choked up, than having the whole family together. The next day he went to the hospital for the first of what would be many visits over the next 6 months.

Gramps has been gone now for 5 1/2 months. Although the Holidays were difficult, it gets a little easier as time passes. However, there are still moments when it hits me that he's gone. I know that I will see him again in Heaven but sometimes that is not much comfort. I know that he's not suffering or in pain anymore, but that doesn't make it easier to hear Grams tell how much she misses him or still hears him in the house.

I'm not sure how we will acknowledge Gramps' birthday--its' not like we won't all know what day it is--but this is uncharted territory for us. Do we just act like it's any other day? Do we visit the cemetery? Do we have dinner? I guess we'll just see how the day plays out.

This picture was taken 2 Christmas ago (I think). Gramps was always cold!

Here's Dave and I with Gramps. It's hard to remember Gramps being "chunky".

This is one of my favorite pictures taken on our cruise in September 2006 to celebrate Grams and Gramps' 60th Wedding Anniversary.

Busted!

I had a great time out with some WVBL friends Saturday night. We went to a wine tasting at Park West—although most of it wasn’t good. Then we went over to Sweet O at Westgate. We got a seat on the patio, there was a band playing nearby and the weather was gorgeous. They have flights of wine, which is three 3 oz glasses of wine, each the same kind but from different regions or different tastes (can you tell I know next to nothing about wine?). Well, the five of us had each ordered a flight and some chocolate fondue and were just enjoying the evening. What could possibly be wrong with this picture, you ask?
All of a sudden we hear “is that on your food plan?”. We turn around and who is standing on the other side of the railing than our trainer!!! We looked like kids caught with our hands in the candy jar—surrounded by about 15 wine glass, most of which were empty, two fondue pots and a few remains of dipping items. Can you say busted? We were literally stuttering out an explanation. She wasn’t buying it. By the end of our “visit” she had promised that we would pay for this at Monday’s workout.
In our defense, a flight of wine is only 9 oz, which is the equivalent of just a couple glasses of wine. And I had allowed for the calories. That wasn’t really cutting it with her.
We had another event today and our “oops” was revealed to everyone. I am a little nervous to see what she has up her sleeve for us tomorrow.

5 K, Take 2

I completed my 2nd 5K this morning . . . didn't make my goal of 40 minutes. I actually was 12 seconds slower this time around. But, here's my rationalization: I ran most of it by myself and I felt like crud. I couldn't go far without coughing and, at best, I could only breathe out of one side of my nose. I know, excuses, excuses!
The scenery was much prettier this time (according to the brochure: beautiful, palm-tree lined paths) but since it wasn't an out-and-back like last time, I saw very few people. There weren't nearly as many racers this time around and when they all took off I was just following. A couple of friends were a ways behind me. Seriously, I was bored! So, on one street I decided to sing out loud to my MP3. I apologize to anyone who lives on that street and heard a very off-key version of Dancing Queen sung between gasping for air.
Oh, yeah, the best part was when a sweet old lady (think 70+) passed me in her knee high sport socks! That'll make you feel good about yourself!

Weights and Measures

This was a big week for assessments. We were weighed and measured and also re-did all of our initial fitness assessments. This won’t be of interest to many of you, but I’m going to post my results for my own benefit.
I did have a meltdown during the measurements. Apparently, the skin in my mid-section doesn’t do so well when it loses fat (sorry TMI). So, while I am losing, everything is sliding South so I can’t get accurate measurements. Without any mid-section measurements, I lost 7 ½ inches! I am sure that I lost an additional 25 inches in my middle!
I weighed in on Saturday morning and am down another 8.8 pounds—a total of 16.8 in 7 weeks!
As for the fitness assessments, I can see huge growth in what I can do. I improved my wall sit from 1:41 to 6:40 (?). I did 60 crunches in a minute, compared to 40. I can now do 37 push-ups and when we started I could only do 7. Finally, I ran (ok, jog/walk) my mile in 13:42. My initial time was 16:25.
I am so proud of myself—as well as everyone in my group. There is no one who has not shown significant growth. I can only imagine what I will be able to do come July!
Apparently, I am now a 5 K-er. . . we are doing the Litchfield Park 5K this Saturday morning. My goal is to finish in 40 minutes. Wish me luck!