6 Things Sunday

1.  I hope everyone had a happy holiday!
2.  I did pretty good with my eating this week.  I did have some of my mom's famous caramel rolls that I only get once a year and a few glasses of wine.  I didn't veer too off course, but I did allow myself to enjoy some things that only come once a year.  Was I as good as I have been? NO!  Was I completely out of control?  No. I just need to be honest with all of you and myself that I enjoyed my holiday without stuffing myself to the gills or depriving myself.  I was somewhere in the middle.  Usually I am bloated and want to puke I am so full, so I thought I did well.
3.  I got a Wii Fit and Just Dance for Christmas!!  So excited to start using them soon!
4.  I'm going to Disney World!!! My future in-laws are taking all of us to Disney World in March.  I have been there before, but not since I was 8, so I am excited to go again!!
5.  I just went to Target and Pier 1 and got $300 worth of stuff for about $100.  Success.
6.  I am so, so, so excited to get completely back on track, into a groove, don't have parties to go to, cookies to bake, dinners to eat, drinks to sip... you get it.  I love the holiday's but I have had my fill and now I am ready to make the rest of 2010 and the New Year a huge weight loss, healthy living, feel amazing about my body year :)

I've been tagged!

The wonderful Tim at Fat.Boy.Thin has 'tagged' me in his blog.

I am supposed to answer 4 questions that he’s given me. Then I create 4 new questions and tag 4 other bloggers.  I must not have read this part well because I answered the same ones that he answered and the ones that he gave me.  Oh well...

Before we start I have to also say that I have been slacking on my blogging, but NOT on my weight loss journey.  I will be posting pictures, new posts, etc this weekend and am hoping to get back on the blogging track.


The Questions

1. Name the furthest place you’ve ever been from home.

The most amazing, wonderful and beautiful place on Earth.  None other than Italy!  I spent 6 months living in Florence, Italy and it was the best time of my life.  I have been trying to save money to go back there some time in the near future.  I can almost taste the delicious wine and gelato now... :)

2.What is the most physically demanding thing you’ve ever done?

Hike through Cinque Terre in Italy.  You hike up and down the coast of 5 beautiful cities along the Mediterranean sea.  It was quite challenging as every time you climb up the giant, steep hills you are reminded that you have to do it again and again until you get to the final city.  It was breathtakingly beautiful and an extremely good workout.

3. How long have you been blogging and what was your initial reason for starting?

 I have been blogging for almost a month and I started because I wanted to keep a journal of my life and weight loss journey and I am much faster at typing than I am at writing.  I also wanted to meet other people who were trying to lose weigth and change their lives to gather inspiration from them along the way.  I think that the blogging community is an amazing resource and something that has really helped me along this journey.

4. What is the best thing that’s happened to you in 2010?

Deciding to take back control of my life, weight and general health and well-being.  I have never had more energy or drive in life than I have now and I am bound and determined to be successful long-term this time.

5. What is the most embarrassing mp3/song you own but absolutely love?

Too many to choose just one.  I have a lot of music in my collection and there is a substantial amount of music that could be considered embarassing.  I actually have a playlist on i-tunes called cheestastic, which contains songs that would probably fit the embarassing bill.  I am going to select Wilson Phillips, "Hold on." and Black Eyed Peas, "My Humps."

6. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and be and why?

Honestly, back to Italy.  I am obsessed and in love with everything about this beautiful country.  If I had to pick somewhere that I have never been I would say Thailand.

7. What's the best thing about writing a blog?

Looking back and seeing your progress and the people who let you know that something you have said or done is inspirational to them.

8. What's the funniest joke you know?

I am not really a big fan of pre-fabricated jokes.  I am more of the quick wit and sarcasm on the fly.


Tag... You're It

Stacy at Stacy's Weight Loss Blog
Erica at Erica:Journey of  Fat Girl
Rachel at Watch Me Loose It
Christina at I am Sick of Being as Big as a House

The new Questions1.  What is your favorite thing about the holiday season?

2. What is your top 5 favorite artists of all time?

3.  Who are the inspirations in your life?

4. What is one thing you wish you would have known when you were younger?

Enjoying the great outdoors

Today was spent in the great outdoors of the beautiful and extremely underrated state of Minnesota.  I spent the morning with girlfriends and the afternoon at a rugby game with friends.  I did a lot of walking today and we played frisbee a bit after the rugby game and it was nice to spend my day off being active with friends.  We went to a bar after the game to hang out and I was able to fend off the free taco bar that was offered, the greasy fried food and the free booze.  It felt great.  It feels so good to wake up every morning and not feel a "fat hangover".  I like waking up with no regrets about what I ate and feeling like my body is clean and healthy.  It seems like the eating well portion of this healthy lifestyle is getting easier everyday.  I am focused on continuing this habit with 3-4 day a week exercises for a few more weeks and then trying to up the workout routine by either increasing the duration or working out more frequently during the week.

Tomorrow morning I will weigh myself and blog the results, so hopefully the numbers continue to prove that my choices are paying off!

I found the wagon

Originally Posted 10/6/2010 12:05 PM CDT

UGGGH, so annoyed with myself.  Here I am back to blogging after an almost three month hiatus. Where have I been you ask?  Oh, you know, making excuses, over-indulging, not eating well, not exercising, not sticking to my plan, not feeling good about myself.  First it was my birthday, so I mean why not eat whatever I want and have cake and have several celebrations.  Then it was end of summer BBQ's and the State fair and Labor day.  The next thing you know it is 3 months later and what do I have to show for it?  Not a smaller waistline, not a bigger one either, but that is not the point.  The goal is not to maintain at this point in time.  So, anyway I am back at it.  Today is day three and I can say I feel really committed, I feel like I can do this, I can beat this vicious cycle and be healthy once and for all.  So, I am staying in the positive. I am tracking my progress, I am thinking about everything I put into my body and I am making a relaistic plan that I can stick to.

So, many of you may be asking, what really made her come back.  What is the real reason that she is committed again.  Well, good question.  As much as I would like to say that it is solely because I want to be healthy and to feel good and to live my life to the fullest, that may not be the whole truth.  You see, I am 24 years old.  I know, I know, not necessarily over the hill, I get it.  But, I am 24 years old in a world where people go to college, graduate, get jobs, go to grad school, get engaged, get married and start the rest of their lives.  So, what sounds so bad about that right?  Well, it is the last two things that have been weighing heavily on my mind.  I am in a serious committed relationship with someone that I love and adore, so finding a companion is not the problem.  The problem isn't even so much the getting engaged part... I would LOVE to be enagaged to this person.  I have dreamt about it since I was a little girl, but I have also dreamt about the wedding.  The BIG day.  The family, friends, loved ones and the dress and photos.  AHHHH, the dress. A dress?  An unforgiving WHITE dress!?  Yuck!  The thought of trying on wedding dresses is repulsive in my current state.  I am lucky that I am more advanced in my relationship than my close friends or I would have to be concerned about the dreaded bridesmaid dresses as well, but hopefully I will nip that worry in the bud before it even becomes an issue.  Anyway, back to the big wedding talk.  I know that my boyfriend and I will get engaged in the next year.  We have talked about it, our families have talked about, our friends, co-workers and so on.  So, yes I am excited.  I am beyond thrilled with the idea of everything, but the idea of me in a white wedding dress taking photos that my great-great grandchildren will see.  So, on that note, I have many things motivating me.  I am of course doing this for me and my own health more than anything, but these other motivating factors are certainly playing a role in this.

So, I will keep you updated on my progress and the status of my relationship as things.  Progress.  Is anyone else getting married?  Close to getting married?  Trying to lose weight before the big day?  Tell me some stories, tell me your progress, your success!  I can use ANY sort of inspiration I can get right now.