I know what you're thinking..

"She hasn't posted in a while. She must be completely off her goals. That's the only time she doesn't post."

Well, I'm proud to say that you.. would be wrong.

I have consistently [mostly] been working out every morning to my Bob Harper dvd. I actually quite enjoy it.. not the workout, but how it makes me feel afterwards.

I feel:

• accomplished
• energized
• alive
• powerful
• amazing

and many other words that you can come up with on your own.

This doesn't mean I am going to stop posting. I just hadn't had anything entertaining to post.. and sometimes it feels as if I have no readers..  it's just the way it feels when you blog and there's no comments.. no comments = no readers..

I am going to continue doing this for myself. To keep myself accountable.. plus I just like blogging. It's fun! 

This month's goal has been to make working out a consistent habit of mine. I am going to be starting a new job soon, so it will be interesting to see how I can continue to make exercise a priority when I actually have more of a schedule than what my parents have me do around the house.

Being about 11 days out from October, I think I can share my October goal with you. My goal for October [and November..and possibly December.. it's a 9 week (approximately) goal] is to complete the Couch to 5k program. I want to be able to run a 5k by Christmas.. without stopping. Preferably sooner. My sister is a big runner and I'd love to go running with her for real.. and keep up. Rather than her slowing to my pace. *fingers crossed*

I hope we can run and talk like this :)

Honesty time..

I did not want to get out of bed today. I did not want to work out today. I was (and still am) sore all over. I thought.. no one will know.. I can just sleep in until 10.. it'll all be good..

Well I can tell you the sleeping in did happen, however.. when I got out of bed (already in my work out clothes) and found that there was no one in the house.. I remembered my brother wasn't going to be home until noon.. MY EXCUSE HAD VANISHED!

It became my choice. Was I going to CHOOSE to sit on the couch and watch tv or lounge around on the computer? Or was I going to CHOOSE to put in that dvd and do the workout? Guess what?

I DID IT!!!

I conquered my own lazy self and worked out.. and I did the full hour!

I am so excited and proud of myself.. you have no idea! INSERTING HAPPY DANCE HERE>>>

I am writing this blog to keep me motivated, but man it is still hard to keep going. I'll see ya'll later.. If I can ever stop watching this happy dance!

Oh and p.s. going on a retreat this weekend. May not be updating for a couple days. Love ya'll!

I Hate Bob Harper

and I mean that in the nicest way possible. I just did the 1 hour strength workout from this dvd >>>>>

I had only done the 20 minute beginner session before today (actually I did it yesterday too) and thought that it was hard, but not hard enough. If I want to burn off all the extra fat that I have suffocating the best me inside, I needed to step it up. Bob was going to help me do that.

And boy did he  help. Only 15 minutes in, I was already in body-shaking pain. Now, this may be because I am an incredibly out of shape over 220 lb woman trying to keep up with the likes of Bob Harper and his helpful fitness gurus.. but I like to think that it burned just as much for them. (Actually at the end of the workout, Bob has to start yelling at them to keep going and they were yelling out in the extreme effort it took them to do it.. it made me feel a lot better about how hard I thought it was)

I was planning on rewarding myself with a really long hot shower.. however, my legs could only hold me up for so long.. so it was a short rewarding shower haha!

Yesterday, I talked to someone who reads my blog and she told me how well she thought I was doing and that was really encouraging to me (thanks Kelsey!) In return, I was able to encourage her to get started. She is going to start the 30-day shred with Jillian Michaels. Good luck, Kelsey!

I'd love to hear what some of the rest of you are planning on doing to reach your fitness goals. The end of 2012 is closer than we think. I do NOT want losing weight to be my number one New Year's Resolution AGAIN. I REFUSE. Talk to me.. I'd love to hear from you.

And to finish off, here's a funny gif to explain why I like to work out by myself at home sometimes..

What I think I look like while working out..

What I actually look like.

Vacation stinks..

..for my diet..blehh..

I had a very enjoyable 2 week vacation with my family to go to Illinois and drop off my sister at school. We then zig-zagged back home across Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. It was a great time, but...

I ate awfully. Not all the time, but most of the time. The problem with constantly being on the road is constantly eating junk. Whether it's pizza in the hotel room or stopping off at McDonald's or something similar and snarfing it down before jumping back in the car.

Also, it meant I didn't work out as often as I should have. One day at my grandparent's house, I went for a run with my sister, and that was great. Also, we walked at a couple zoos A LOT.. but it still wasn't enough.. I gained quite a bit of weight back..

This does NOT mean I will quit. This does NOT mean I'm giving up. This does NOT mean I won't reach my goals.

I have found a new motivation. I have mentioned the Shaytards and Shay Carl in previous posts, and he has a weight loss motivation month this month called Shaytember. Below is a video that inspired me at first. I hope it inspires you too.

Join me for Shaytember. Just do it.

Carry on..

..my wayward so-o-o-on. There'll be peace when you are do-one. Lay your weary head to re-e-e-est. Don't you cry no more!

Well here I am on the road quoting Kansas songs from Kansas. In some way I can relate the song to both my physical journey and my weight loss journey. The song encourages you to carry on, telling you that there will be peace when you have reached the end of what you are doing. So, keep working out! When you finally get to your end goal, you will be so happy! You just have to believe in yourself and keep working to get there. Then you will get to lay your weary head down for a rest.. at least for a while :) So, please don't cry. Don't know if that makes any sense at all to anyone else, but just thought I'd share.

So, I was planning on working out in the hotel gym today.. however, our hotel had a different idea.. The shower is broken.     Which means I am most definitely not making myself a sweaty gross mess before I have to be in a car with other people for hours. HOWEVER, that did not stop me from working out. So, my sister and I just did strength exercises.

p.s. I am still sore from the Bob Harper workout.. and sitting in a car doesn't help..

So today I did:

40 squats, 40 leg raises, 40 1-leg bridges, 56 sideways lunges (my sister does more and I lost count and followed her), 40 pendulum lunges, and 20 push-ups!

Getting back into the swing of things..

Well by 10am today, I worked out, showered, and am now watching the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics.. Now, some of you are saying "wait a minute..aren't the Olympics already over?" Those of you who have been following my blog know that I have been out of the country for the past month and a half. Thankfully, my parents got a nice, big dvr and recorded my most favorite events.

I had a wonderful time teaching overseas, but I did get out of the habit of working out and eating healthy. Yes, Asian food is more healthy in some aspects, but they also LOVE to feed you when you come to visit.. A LOT. So, coming back is interesting. I am also craving all the junk that I missed out on while being gone. Things such as pizza, pasta, and basically anything but rice.

Today, I am marking as my official starting day. I have been trying, but have failed, before now.

Anyways, I believe I told you about my Bob Harper dvd before.

Well, today I did it. The 20 minute version that is.. not the full hour yet. I'm easing myself back in. However, the 20 minutes were difficult enough to scare me about the hour. I had also done some arm exercises before. Led by my sister of course.. 

I am sore, but not incredibly.. I have a feeling that I will be feeling it later..I know my arms feel it now.

Team Bob

I don't know how many of you out there are Biggest Loser fans, but if you are you'll understand my title this week. I just bought this new dvd to work out to (if anyone can motivate me, Bob can) once I get back [i'll explain in a moment]

i'm scared/excited

also, when I return I am going to try running. I know, I know. I hate running too. But I really think it's only because of a bad experience with it in high school. P.E. finals anybody? So, I will be doing the Couch to 5k. I'm also going to try to get as many people in on it with me as I can. Motivation and teamwork.

Finally, to answer everyone's question. I am going to be gone for 6 weeks! I will be working with Footsteps Missions by serving in China and South Korea teaching English to elementary children in an English camp setting. It's going to be hard, but it's also going to be an amazing experience. Hopefully I won't gain too much weight eating delicious korean food, but if I do, Bob will be here to kick my butt!