Keepin' at it....

Ok, so today went fairly well as far as my eating went. I don't think it'll be that big of a deal really. It's hard not eating a lot of carbs. I'm kinda waiting to see how that effects me in my work out tomorrow. I kept it to three servings of carbs versus 6 or 7. I kept my calorie intake under 1600 today. I'm not exactly sure if that's good or not. I've asked my beach body coach about it, just waiting to hear what he has to say. Here's the break down of what I ate....

Breakfast - 1 1/2 cups of plain oatmeal
1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup frozen strawberries

Mid morning snack - 4 oz. no sugar added grape juice
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 large banana

Lunch - 2 cups of lettuce
1 med. chicken breast
2 Tbsp.Olive oil and vinegar
1/2 green apple
1 Tbsp. chopped almonds

Mid Afternoon snack - 2 eggs, scrambled
Dab of mustard
1/2 cup green grapes

Dinner - 1 salmon filet baked with mustard, honey and garlic
1/2 cup broccoli
1/2 cup brown rice

Snack - 1/2 cup low fat yogurt
2 Tbsp. grape nuts
1/2 banana

I feel pretty good - I hope that after two weeks I'm down to my goal weight! It's doable. I'm going to add an extra ab work out or two (my goal is three a week). I feel so close yet so far away!
I got to Skype with my little sister who's in Nicaragua with my dad and a missions team right now. They'll be there for 2 1/2 weeks...I feel like she's been gone forever and she just left Saturday. But I know she loves going and I'm glad she has the opportunity to go.

You Are Mine

You Are Mine
by: Mute Math

Everyone has their obsession
Consuming thoughts, consuming time
They hold high their prized possessions
That defines the meaning of their lives

You are mine
You are mine
You are mine, all mine
You are mine

There are objects of affection
That can mesmerize the soul
There is always one addiction
That just cannot be controlled

You are mine
You are mine
You are mine, all mine
You are mine

Everyone has their obsession
Consuming thoughts, consuming time
They hold high their prized possession
They hold high their prized possession

Lazy day.....

We had a really lazy day today and I think it was much needed. I didn't rush to do anything, I didn't go anywhere, didn't do much of anything really. Sometimes I feel like I'm always on the run and I like that but some days I just need to be quiet and catch up mentally. I did a little laundry and I was going to lay out but it was a little chilly even with the sun out, plus I got a little sun on my arms and chest out hiking yesterday so I thought I would just wait.....the way our patio is out side and the trees all around it there's only sun on it really good for about an hour around 12:30 and that doesn't work well with Gianna's schedule.....I don't fore see my stomach getting a lot of sun again this year!
I've decided to start a super strict "diet" for the next two weeks....yeah I know I've been on a pretty strict one already but for two weeks straight I think I'll eat pretty much the same things - oatmeal, a little fruit, eggs, chicken, fish and green veggies. I'm going to sit down and make my "menu" tomorrow. I really want to get my stomach toned and I need something strict to start getting me there. Plus I just need to slap myself back into strict mode. I also think I'm going to add in a few extra ab work outs the next two weeks too. I'm saying two weeks because I just want to see if I can tell a difference or not....It's kinda fun to experiment with different exercise programs and different diets and stuff just to see what it does or doesn't do!
I've been online today looking at condo's for rent at the beach! I'm pretty excited! We for sure want to go to Gulf Shores, AL. I have so many wonderful childhood memories there and I want to take Gianna and Beej and make new memories of our own. We were planning to go sometime in August and celebrate both our 5th anniversary and my 24th birthday but I think we may wait til September because it'll be just as hot still but a lot cheaper. I'm amazed at how "cheap" we can get a two bedroom condo directly on the beach in Sept.! And by Sept. I should be down to my perfect weight and hopefully feeling good about beach wear! Lol!
Today I discovered this girl who is home schooled and she paints and when I say paints I mean she is incredible!!! I found her through Mute Math's FB page - she had tagged them in some paintings she had done of them. I went to her page and followed the link to her portfolio page. She is totally amazing - I'd love to get the painting I've posted on here done for Beej to put up in his studio one day! I think it's amazing and totally awesome! This girl so talented...people who can draw and paint just amaze me! Especially since I can barely draw a stick figure! Check her out - http://avcasey.daportfolio.com/

Hiking

(Lunch on the rock at the bottom of the falls.)
(Beautiful falls at DuPont)
(Half way through the hike!)
(Bridge.....)
(Stone path through the water.)
(My handsome man!)

So we had a fabulous day hiking! We hiked about 8 miles....I got up this morning and worked out too, so did Beej and he's pretty sore - I think he pulled a lat muscle. So he's really feeling it now. The hike was gorgeous and the day couldn't have been more beautiful! About 70 degrees, sunny and breezy. We saw some people at the falls and passed a few mountain bikers and people on horse back but other then that we were pretty much alone on the trails. Saw some bear tracks but no actual bears. Thank goodness! I used the Porta-John before we got on the trail and managed to hold it comfortably til we got done. I was willing to "use" the trail if need be but being with two guys made me a little shy about it unless it was a serious need! Mike is planning some more hikes for us to do, bigger and more strenuous! I'm totally pumped and can't wait to go.....I don't think I burned quit as many calories as I hoped but it was still a good extra work out and a great time! After we got done hiking we stopped and had a quick dinner at Outback which was nice - Gianna spent the day wearing out her poor Grandma!!! All of us are ready for bed.....I'm so tired I could just collapse. I meant to get my mother in laws camera but it didn't work out to get it before we left so we took mine but since Gianna's been playing with it the batteries were low so I only snapped a couple of shots. I'm putting up a few Mike took too so that you can see the gorgeous falls we stopped at for lunch!

The Funeral

I am absolutely in love with this song and this band is completely growing on me!!! It seems they've been around for awhile but I am just finding out about them thanks to Buick commercials and My Life As Liz!!! Beautiful song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibE7IqEjni4

______________________________________________________________________

The Funeral

I'm coming up only to hold you under
I'm coming up only to show you wrong
And to know you is hard and we wonder
To know you all wrong, we were

Really too late to call, so we wait for
Morning to wake you; it's all we got
To know me as hardly golden
Is to know me all wrong, they were

At every occasion I'll be ready for a funeral
At every occasion once more is called a funeral
Every occasion I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion one brilliant day funeral

I'm coming up only to show you down for
I'm coming up only to show you wrong
To the outside, the dead leaves, they all blow (alive is very poetic)
For'e (before) they died had trees to hang their hope

At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion once more is called the funeral
At every occasion I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion one brilliant day funeral

And so the wheel keeps turning.....

I had a great day today - nothing super special but still good. Slept in a wee bit, like 15 mins., got up and did my work out (of course!) and got Gi and I ready to head out to Mom and Dad's house. Helped get a few things done around there, made breakfast for lunch and let Gianna run around outside, tried to get a bit more of a tan but the sun decided to hide behind the clouds for the hour we were out there! Gianna wouldn't nap today, I still make her lay down though. I need that break and she needs the rest whether she realizes it or not. She loves being outside so when we are out at Mom and Dad's I try to let her run as much as possible because we just don't have the space here at the apartment. We've started playing out on our back patio a little more though. We bought her some sidewalk chalk and I really want to get her a sand box soon. She keeps talking about building sand castles! I'm super excited to take her to the beach this year because she's so into sand lately so I know she'll love it.
I went with D to a photo opt tonight at costume birthday party! It was actually pretty fun and the people were friendly. D made some money she needed for her trip so it was great all around. She leaves for 2 1/2 weeks in Nicaragua tomorrow. I'm going to miss her like mad.....she's my buddy! But I know she loves going with my dad and traveling and meeting new people so it's good for her!
Tomorrow is our big hiking day! The weather is supposed to be really nice and I'm so excited! It looks like it's going to be about 8 1/2 miles - pretty nice. And it's going to be in some really pretty areas too. I'm taking my camera and getting lots of pics! I do plan to get up and do my work out before we go though...I know it sounds nuts but I don't want to get off track and start skipping work outs. I won't push it too hard since I'll be doing the hike too but it'll be good. Beej is going to work out at the gym with my dad in the morning too so we'll be exhausted by Sunday morning - I think we may sleep in!
Gianna is getting so big - she's started saying "No, thank you!" when she doesn't want something and she started it all on her own! It's so cute! She's getting pretty stubborn though too - she's started putting her hands on her hips and telling me "No....". It's almost so cute I laugh sometimes but I try to remain stern! I tend to give in a lot because I just don't like the fight but at the same time I don't want her to turn into a bratty, screaming little girl like some kids I've known. They are a pest to be around and no fun to have play dates with! Lol! Constantly worrying when they are going to start screaming and throwing things next....goodness! I guess I tend to be a little overly cautious about Gianna because I really want her to be a joy to be around. She's so smart and just too cute - she is a quick learner (too quick sometimes!). She really tries hard to do things right and gets really upset when she doesn't get it. She's worked really hard on this potty training thing and getting it - we did find out that her kidney reflux sometimes causes that to be a little more difficult. The bladder "leaks" that we thought we just her peeing in her pants sometimes can't be controlled. I feel better knowing that she really has gotten it, it's just something she can't control! I proud of how interested in fitness she is - she's started watching and trying to do my work outs with me instead of watching her shows like she used too! I love it and can't wait til she's big enough to really start working out with me good. I try to explain to her that we work out and eat right not just to be skinny (although that's part of it!) but that we do it to be healthy, disciplined and balanced in life. I want to start her on good habits and a positive way of thinking early on.
I'll share some hiking pics tomorrow!!!

This is how my day behaves....

We've had a really loooonnngg day. I have a sinus cold on top of it so that doesn't help anything. I can't breathe and my head feels like it's going to explode. *sigh* But life must go on, right?! I was up by 6:30am so that I could work out and shower before leaving the house at 9am to go help my dad with some stuff and be back home and ready to leave for Charlotte by 1pm. Luckily, today is my "recovery" day workout so it's not quite as fast paced and it's only 30 mins. long. I managed to eat 1480 cals. today! Lol! I just didn't have time to really prepare everything I needed so I kinda had "snacks" today instead of full meals. I'm eating a cup of frozen grapes right now just to get my calories up to 1480 for today. Some day are like that.
I'm going to hiking with my hubby and a friend of his on Saturday and I'm beyond excited! It's going to be a pretty strenuous, 7 1/2 mile hike and I'm ready for the challenge. All this working out has me prepared! The weather is supposed to be about 70 degrees, so perfect for hiking. Praying we don't run into any bears or anything! I'm still going to do my work out that morning so I'll burn about 2000 calories on Sat. and I'm stoked about that - maybe I'll lose another pound or two this weekend!
So we met the Urologist today. A really nice, soft spoken man. He explained everything and went over all our options with us. We found out Gianna's reflux isn't quite as bad as we thought. They grade it levels 1-5 and she's a 2 on one side and a 3 on the other. There is a 50 and 80% chance she'll out grow it in five years but no guarantee. We have options to just watch it and see what happens, start her on medication, do a non surgery procedure to tighten the tubes or a surgery procedure to fix it completely. For now I think we are going to try the daily medication for a month or two and see how she does......his main concern is that at the stage she's at in potty training put her at a higher risk for getting more infections. She's at that "hold it and hold it" stage and that causes more issues. So we are going to try the medicine until she, hopefully grows out of that in a few months and gets the potty training thing down perfect. So we are hopeful this (and lots of prayer and faith!) will fix it!
After the doctor visit we took Gianna to see How To Train Your Dragon in 3D. She was kind restless but there were only a few people so I let her wander up and down our aisle. She didn't want to keep the glasses on so she watched most of it with out them! But in the end she said she loved it and it really was a super cute movie!
Went over to the in-laws after that and had dinner and spent a little time just chit chatting and playing with the kitty cats.......
Now my day is done and I'm exhausted, can't breathe and ready for sleep! Another day tomorrow - not sure what all it holds but I'm going tomorrow evening with my sister to a photo shoot at a party. A 70 year old's costume party!!! It should be loads of fun!!! Lol!
Good night, world.