Taste with your Eyeballs

B and I made reservations on the evening of the soft opening at Dragonfly in Orlando. The atmosphere is even nicer than the Gainesville location and the food is just as good (meaning: to DIE for)!


I bought B this as a belated birthday gift.

Cannon Powershot S90

 He does amazing things with it.

 

Month 1: A Long Way to Go

The next week after our vacation of gluttony and alcohol drinking, I decided to start to get in shape and lose weight for real this time. For the last month I have worked out 6 days a week and I've been trying to eat less calories. Actually, this week I only did 4 days because I was so busy....felt super guilty about that but I'm going to change my workout routine this next month so it was a good break. My other rule is no alcohol AT ALL until the first game day of the University of Florida football season. Rough, huh? So far, I've lost about 9-10 pounds. However, I've learned that these first few months are going to be the hardest.

Even though I feel healthier and I've noticed a change in my body, no one else does. I still have 35 more pounds to go until I get to my goal weight. It's going to take at least until the end of November and if not longer.  I don't get complements. No one stops to say, "Wow, you look great. You look like you've lost some weight!" I keep telling myself that I have to be patient and that it will pay off in the end, but it's incredibly hard without reinforcement from others. It's not that I'm doing this for other people but any kind of encouragement I can get helps.  However, I've noticed the thought that keeps me the most motivated is the idea of revamping my whole wardrobe and getting rid of all my fat clothes. Kind of vain, huh? The thought of fitting in my size 8 jeans again is so exciting! I also can't wait to look good in shorts again. Or to try on clothes at a store and not get depressed.

I noticed that after awhile I started to get bored with my work-out routine. Mostly, I did the elliptical and sometimes stairs or the treadmill for at least 30 minutes and then for 10-15 minutes afterward I focused on my "problem areas" (arms, tummy, thighs). This month I decided that I need a goal other then weight loss to motivate me. So I am going to do an "advanced beginner" 5k prep routine. Every week I will increase my distance by .5 miles but this is how I am starting:

Monday-1.5 mile run
Tuesday-Cross Train (40-45 minute and weights)
Wednesday-1.5 miles race pace (this will be outside and not in the gym)
Thursday-rest day
Friday-30 minute easy
Saturday-rest day
Sunday-2 mile run (this is my distance day) and maybe weights afterward

I haven't actually signed up for a 5k yet because I want to make sure I have time for applications and the GRE on top of working out and going to work for 40 hours a week (ugh..). I will have to revisit that question again at the end of my second month of losing weight. So it's off to a good but anticlimactic start. If anyone else out there would like to exchange thoughts of encouragement I would love the opportunity to be your coach. I could email you inspirational quotes and check in on your progress and you could do the same for me. Us "curvy" girls need to stick together. Oh, the joys of being a woman.  I say that because my boyfriend is super skinny and does not take care of himself. I did however, convince him to get a gym membership. Progress. That's what its all about. Motivational Song of the Month

One day at a time.

Low Calorie Christy Bucks Frapp

After my workout today, I felt like rewarding myself. So I made homemade frappuccinos.  It's low calorie and delicious. Thanks Starbucks, but I think I'll hold onto my $5.

Homemade Frappuccino

-1/2 cup skim milk
-Strong brew of Starbucks Pike's Peak coffee (or whatever kind of coffee resides in your cupboard)
-Ice
-2-3 equal packets
-Lite cool whip (just a little on top)
-Hershey's syrup or chocolate shavings (I used 1 hershey's bliss dark chocolate but it's optional)

Blend milk, coffee, ice, and equal together in a blender. Add toppings as desired.

Disclaimer: It doesn't turn out exactly like a Starbucks frapp. Mine was super frothy and I think I didn't let my coffee cool enough before I blended it. I also had to add lots of ice to get it to the right consistency. It fit the bill though. Definitely took care of my chocolate/sugar/dessert craving.

Total calorie count with 1 hersheys bliss dark chocolate, 2 tablespoons lite cool whip, and 2 tablespoons hersheys syrup: 216 calories

Sometimes I'm just good...especially when it involves food/cooking baking. Sticking to my diet/exercising though and that is what's important to me right now.

Update/Vacation

I'm way overdue for an update. I hope you can find it in your one (or maybe 2) hearts to forgive me! At the end of June, I went on a week long vacation with B and my mom's family. I think the last time I went on a vacation was when I was a sophomore in college..I went to Sanibel with B's parents summer 2004.....6 years ago! This summer we went to Blue Ridge, Georgia and stayed in gorgeous cabin in the mountains. It was called, "Bearadise Lodge". This cabin was new and included three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a gameroom, a hot tub, an awesome porch with rocking chairs with a view, and a well-stocked kitchen. The owners of this cabin did not skimp, people! Check it out.

On top of the lovely accommodations and peaceful view, we did a lot of fun activities. We went gemming for the first time, explored a waterfall, river, and dam, and we went whitewater rafting. Let me tell you..whitewater rafting is so amazingly fun. It was very hot in Blue Ridge this June so I did not mind the cold, 50 degree water getting all over me.I was very proud that I didn't fall out of the raft but I did take a swim anyways (myself and this other young girl were the only ones that didn't fall out when we hit a level 4 rapid).  I cannot wait to go rafting again.

This vacation was exactly what I needed. We ate too much food, drank too much alcohol, and spent a lot of time on the porch with a cup of coffee or a beer. I'm so glad I made this vacation a priority and I want to continue to do so even when I go back to graduate school and we're on a tight budget. Since I've been back, I've been working out 6 days a week and watching my intake. I feel great. Working out helps my attitude makes it a lot easier to deal with work during the day.

In other news, I am desperately trying to convince myself to continue to work on my graduate school applications. I'm completely scared, freaked out, nervous etc. that I can't even get myself to work on them. I'm so afraid of not getting in. Of course, I'll never know if I don't try. I'm praying for faith in myself, patience, and motivation.

Even though times have been somewhat tough lately I am a lucky, lucky girl. I try to remind myself of that everyday.