Happy Birthday to Me!

If you are reading this tomorrow (July 1st), that means that I am OFFICIALLY 30!!!! Ahhh!!!!

I have heard so many times that your 30s are some of the best years of your life. Up until the last year, I was really skeptical of this. I mean, my 20s involved me getting married, having kids, experiencing new things...what could possibly be better than that?

Well, I'm still not sure, but...I can't wait to find out!

12 Week Challenge

We all know that I need a major kick in my ass. The results of my personal 5-week challenge were not good, to say the least, so there is really no point in sharing them. Every since the start of the year, I have struggled - really struggled. I have been up and down with my weight, binge eating, exercising less, and feeling miserable. I haven't even been sleeping very well, which is a sure sign that my body is starting to get messed up. I need to change.

Enter Skinny Meg's 12 Week Challenge.

The challenge starts today. From what I understand, we're going to spend the first month really focusing on getting our eating under control, before moving on to pushing ourselves more with exercise. I am excited to have a group working with me to keep me accountable. And Meg, if you don't know her, is super kind and encouraging - the real deal. I am so glad that she is one of the leads of this challenge.

I'm actually not going to be officially starting until Wednesday, since today is my anniversary and Tuesday is my birthday. But after that, it's on like Donkey Kong!

Here are some before PICTURES. *Deep breath*...





Please wish me luck. I know I've failed before, but I CAN do this again!

Starting "stats" to follow...

La Dee Da

I am so wired tonight, and I don't even know why! It's 10:13, and I don't even feel anywhere CLOSE to needing to go to sleep. Give me the strength to not eat everything in sight! I have a big ol' bottle of water beside me, and I'm trying to pretend it's a milkshake. Guess how well that's working?

I am using this burst of energy to look up crafting and creative ideas, to plan meals, and to play Angry Birds. Yup, Angry Birds. I am so late to this game - why didn't anyone tell me how fun and ADDICTING it was? I guess I should have stayed away! On the bright side, I won the tournament last week so I won 200 coins and....oh my goodness....I'm a dork....

I guess I will sign off with whatever dignity I have left!

Insert Grumpy Face

I have been in such a funk since we lost our beloved doggie. Although I'm glad we had a good 14 years with him, it still doesn't feel like enough time. Little things make me sad, like seeing his empty food dish or asking me husband to "feed the dogs" and then realizing that there is only one dog now. Sniff sniff.

Summer is officially here, and I was really hoping to start feeling more like myself. Instead, I find myself feeling more and more miserable. I'm not even going to pretend that I haven't been eating my feelings like crazy, but at least I've been able to avoid a major weight gain. I'm trying to cheer myself up by looking at craft ideas, getting in the pool (finally!), and planning activities for when I'm off on vacation, but nothing is working. I just want to sit around all day in my pajamas, and it's all I can do to get up and go to work.

So, no inspirational words from me today. But if you have any to share, please let me know.

R.I.P. Our Furry Friend

Last Friday, my family and I had to have our sweet little dog put down at the age of (almost) 14. It was a very sad day for us. Even though we knew it was coming eventually, it was still hard to hear that it was time.

RIP our little guy...

Happy Father's Day Weekend

So it's Friday, and the weekend is quickly coming upon us. Instead of my usual Fat-Free Friday, I would like to send a special message to all Fathers out there.

Current fathers, stepathers, grandfathers, dads-to-be, and men hoping to become dads: I am thinking of you this weekend! I hope that someone makes your day special. And to those dads who have experienced a loss, and find this day to be most difficult...you are in my thoughts. Always, but especially this weekend. More than you could know.

I would also like to send an EXTRA special shout out to all the wonderful men out there who take on a fatherly role with children who need - and so deserve - that strong role model, and otherwise may not have it. I tip my hat to you!

Fit in Five Update

I just realized that I'm about halfway through my "Fit in Five" challenge and I haven't really updated you guys yet on my progress. So I guess I shall do that now. Below are my original goals (in bold) and the progress I'm making (in regular print).

Exercise:

1. I will try to get to the gym 3 times per week, and work out on my own at home (running, DVDs, etc) 1-2 times per week
This one has been going okay. The first week I worked out five times total, but only three the next week. This week is going alright so far. I have been busier than usual lately, and just not planning as well as I should.
2. I will push myself with cardio, and start adding more weight with my strength training
I always push myself with cardio, but to be honest, I've completely forgotten to add more weight during strength training.
3. I will do 1000 pushups during these five weeks, and do arm exercises at home on my non-gym days I am on track with this.
4. I will do 1000 squats or lunges (at home)
I am on track!
5. I will do 1000 crunches (or crunch variations) and 35 minutes of planking (one minute each day, average) on top of my gym-time exercises
I am on track with the planks, but behind on the ab exercises.

Food:

1. I will drink more water to avoid snacking mindlessly (I have a terrible oral fixation)
This is going just fine!
2. I will count my points and stay within my daily target as much as possible
FAIL! (About half the time)
3. I will focus on eating more vegetables, aiming for at least 3 servings a day
I'm definitely eating more veggies, but not always hitting 3 per day.
4. I will focus on decreasing the amount of non-natural sugar I consume
I actually think I've been doing better with this.
5. I will try new things, and experiment with new tastes, to make healthy food more interesting
I'm working on it!

Things are obviously moving more slowly than they have in the past, but no worries. Slowly but surely, I'll get there!

Random 5

My thoughts are all over the place right now. As I've said before, I often feel like I have so much to say, and then as soon as I sit down to type, writer's block hits. 1. The crafting bug has hit me once again. I think I am in the mood to make a wreath. Possibly this one...



I also like this one (it's not my style really, but how cute would it be for an avid gardener?)...



2. Did you enjoy my "sneak peek" photos from the last week? I am picking up the CD tomorrow, and am so excited to get the "official" images! I'm also taking my little guy in for a "rock star" themed shoot. I am nervous, and not sure how well that is going to turn out - he doesn't like to sit still! Luckily my photographer is VERY reasonably priced!

3. I am helping my sister plan her daughter's 5th birthday party. It's a Hawaiian theme. I even found sparkly pink flamingos for her at the local Dollarama - score! My favourite idea so far: a kid-friendly "Tiki Bar". How funny would it be to have one like this?



4. Speaking of flamingos, I recently read that there are more fake plastic flamingos in the world than real ones. How crazy is that? 5. I am really enjoying baseball season this year! Not only am I coaching an adorable team, but my BLUE JAYS are actually off to a good start for once - despite the usual injuries! Now if only we could get Kawasaki back more often...



I guess that's all for now. Writer's block or not, I'm afraid I could manage to ramble on and on about nothing! And no one wants that ;)