Cookies In Gym Clothes

On a mission for a healthy and fit lifestyle

Wedding Things January 14, 2013

Filed under: Wedding — cookiesingymclothes @ 7:59 pm

(Because I couldn’t think of a more creative title for this post)

-Venue.. check!: Despite Hurricane Sandy’s efforts to destroy our venue, the Yacht Club where we are having our reception is very much in tact.  Some flooding prompted a first floor renovation, but it could have been much worse.  Should be up and running well before our October 5 2013 wedding date.

-Church.. check!  Also got our pre-cana out of the way nice and early :)

-Photographer.. check! Came highly recommended by several very happy customers and somehow were right within our budget. Win-win.

-Dress and veil.. check!  The bridal shop I went to was fabulous and they could not have been more helpful.  Will arrive sometime in April.  I live in the southern NJ area and lately I have heard of a lot of brides going to Kleinfeld in NYC (Say Yes to the Dress) for dress purchases.  I am a huge advocate of supporting local businesses (mainly because my father is a small business owner).  Your local bridal shops carry many of the same brands that Kleinfeld does without the NY pricetag!

-Florist.. check!  I always knew if I got married around here I would seek the services of Manic Botanic.  Their work is absolutely beautiful, creative, and tasteful.  When my mom & I met with them to discuss what I had in mind, they could not have been more attentive and patient.

-Save the Dates.. still a work in progress. Magnet or no magnet? How creative do we want to be?  Really trying to save money on this one.. shopping around.

-Invitations.. also a work in progress.  To say that my mom and I appreciate beautiful stationery is an understatement.  We didn’t see much that appealed to us online so we visited a local stationer and o-m-g, blown away.  We both have the same idea in mind – a traditional invitation with a formal feel.  The price kind of shocked us.. but we are taking some time to think about the investment we want to make in these.  I love a beautiful, classic invitation, but are they worth the cost?  I am pretty sure I am the only person who saves everyone’s wedding invitations and save-the-dates.  If we splurge here, we’ll have to cut back somewhere else.. hmm.

-Transportation, DJ, Bar/Bartenders.. check!  All being arranged by my fabulous Fi!  He’s awesome like that.

-Candy Bar.. Nixed! Decided to go another route.  And also worried about candy wrappers and hands reaching the bowls.. I am so neurotic sometimes.

A lot more to do, but enjoying it along the way!

 

Here we go again… Week 2

Filed under: Motivation — cookiesingymclothes @ 7:09 pm

Hi All,

Presently in week 2 of my 2nd time around of Weight Watchers.

After Weight Watchers switched from the “old” points system (which factored Calories, Fat, & Fiber for points values) to the PointsPlus program (Fat, Fiber, Carbs, & Protein) a couple years ago, I freaked out, lost it and swore it off altogether.

Looking back, I know that i gave up and refused to learn the “new way” of following the plan, because, well, I was tired of it.  Over it. Bored.

After several failed attempts at different diets, plans, clean eating, etc, I opted to give it another whirl.  What could it hurt.

Turns out, maybe WW and I did need that little break to realize how much we truly needed one another.

Starting Weight (this time around): 129.6 LBS

Last Weigh-in 1/9/13: 124.2 LBS

Weight Change: -5.4 LBS

Total Weight Loss to Date: 5.4 LBS

I was honestly shocked when I heard this.

I can say that when looking back at the past week, I ate a TON more vegetables that I have in recent weeks.  (Most vegetables are 0 PointsPlus now).  I also tried to fill up on fruit during the day.  It was so much easier to catch on than what I had originally thought.  I am not a veggie lover by any means and snacking on fruit.. yeah no.  I find myself feeling better, healthier, and, well, lighter.

In addition to eating better, I have been exercising more.  Today I registered for the More Magazine / Fitness Magazine Half-Marathon which is on April 14 in NYC.  Totally excited for this. My 2nd Half-Marathon.

 

Checking In September 25, 2012

Filed under: Motivation — cookiesingymclothes @ 10:46 am

For the past 3 weeks or so I have been waking up at the tush-crack of dawn to work out with my roomie.  That’s about 5am-ish, more like 5:19.  

The following has been completed:

Turbofire HIIT, Cardio, Core, & strength workouts

Running

Running with strength exercises along the way

Pilates

Have also been taking long walks on “rest days”

5k planned for Saturday!

This morning we did a HIIT workout that left me breathless and my legs shaky.  We did a 3.7 mile run yesterday with strength in the mix that I was still feeling this morning.  I am definitely feeling better and sleeping better.  I feel so tired at night that I am ready to turn-in around 9 but will myself to stay up till at least 10 because, I don’t know, because I’m not 100?

Also developed twitchy-eyelid that I am attributing to just being tired.   

Feels great to be working out out so much, unfortunately the diet is still just okay.  I have good days and bad but try to keep the bad days under control.  Lunchtime usually kills me at work because I usually go out to eat. Lately I have been better with bringing lunch with me.

Some current and future events motivating me:

October – Vegas

November – Trying on wedding dresses

May – My Best Friend’s Wedding (title is purely coincidental ;) )

Next October – MY WEDDING. Holy crap.

 

 

..And the Livin’s Easy July 17, 2012

Filed under: Motivation — cookiesingymclothes @ 11:11 am

Yesterday I had a startling realization that the summer is half over.

It makes me sad.  Yes, we’ve had some rotten humidity and temps but I love and look forward to summer every year.  A couple things have thrown off my summer:

Work.  Derecho. Power outages. Heat waves. Not living practically on the beach (I moved offshore in the winter).

Some positive things about this summer:

Work: I changed jobs in the fall, while still busy and seasonally related, a lot less stress and aggravation.

Spray tan: While I haven’t been in the sun as much as I would like, most of the time I am rocking a pretty tan thanks to a local spa that does a great airbrush with an organic tanning solution.  Tastefully bronzed and not orangey/Snooki-ish at all.

Work:  The past couple years I did changeover cleanings in the summertime.  I loved the cash but hated dealing with the tourists and cleaning up after them.  I work every 3rd Saturday at my present job and wouldn’t have had a consistent cleaning schedule.  Also, after moving to the mainland, the thought of fighting shore traffic every Saturday morning to clean toilets did not seem appealing.

Fiancee:  My Fi lives where I used to live, I miss seeing him every day but still get to see him a lot and now that we’re not neighbors, we put more thought into our plans and how we spend out time together :) Plus wedding planning with him is so much fun.

Friends:  I have a had a friends-filled summer.  Now that I live with my best friend, I have been having consistent girl-time.  I have also been better about making plans with friends.  I am truly blessed with the friends I have.  All of us seem to be going through major events in our lives right now, some good, some bad, but it has really put into perspective the support net we all have and provide for one another.

Anywho.

I have jumped on the Herbalife Bandwagon.  I have one or 2 shakes a day serving as meal replacements.  I haven’t been very consistent with my food choices for the remaining meal(s) but all in all, I have been doing pretty well with it.  Weekends have been tough per usual, I cave way too easily when tempted with delicious food, but am just trying to practice moderation – If I splurge at one meal, then that’s it – I don’t just keep rolling with it the way I used to.  Oh well it happened, let’s move on. I really like the shake routine for that reason – If I have a not so healthy lunch, I make up for it with a shake at dinner.  The shakes are filling and don’t taste really protein-y, I like them.  I have noticed my energy levels are up and I have just been feeling better in general.

I tried to new-to-me classes at my gym on Sunday morning.  I tagged along with the roomie to a core class and a sculpting class.  The core class was challenging for me, in a good way, I was really into it and it actually went by fast.  Immediately following was the sculpting class which was really a total body workout, similar to Body Pump.  This classes was REALLY challenging and made me realize my upper body strength SUCKS! I only used light handweights and some moves I couldn’t even use the 3lb weights.  There were some step moves, but nothing too dancey or choreographed – I was able to follow along with no problem (unlike with Zumba!).  My quads and abs are still screaming today :) .

 

No Judgement June 19, 2012

Filed under: Exercise,Gym,Motivation — cookiesingymclothes @ 8:35 am

Morning Friends,

After a brief hiatus err absence, I am back.  Deepest apologies.  Life happens.

Yesterday was a good day, which is ironic since it was Monday, aka the most despised day of my week.

A pretty sensible day of eating in the mix followed by [pause for dramatic effect] the gym.

 

^Obsessed with this show.

There is a small room at my gym called the “Women’s Fitness Center” – no boys allowed.  Which isn’t really something I care about, but I like the privacy of the room.  I call it the No Judgement room.  When you’re in there, it’s because you want to do your own thing or not worry about other people checking out your moves, form, what have you.  When you’re in there with someone else, each person is looking everywhere but at the other person.  Maybe because it’s such a small space sectioned off from the rest of the place?  Doesn’t help our gym has a plethera of meathead, no-neck, dudes who grunt and throw weights around – whatevuh.  Yesterday I only shared the room when I was doing the cardio segment of my evening so I had it all to myself for the strength routine.

I did some interval fun on the treadmill – 2 minutes of walking, 3 minutes of running with a 5 min warm-up, couple minute cool down - for a total of 40 mins.  My bangs were a schweaty mess.  So great.

Then I did the Week 1 strength routine of the Fitnessista’s Summer Shape Up 2012.  I really enjoyed this.  I read about it last week on her fab blog (have been following it for quite awhile) but for whatever reason held off till yesterday to start it.  I was able to complete all the moves.  Definitely feeling it today.  Week 2 looks a little more challenging.  I think I mentioned before – something I really struggle with is coordination/choreography, hence my being anti-zumba.  I am anti-dance-a-holic therefore, not my thang.

Plan is to do the Fitnessista Week 1 Shape Up on Weds & Fri with an abby routine in the mix.

Following gym, made an egg puff with egg whites, topped with goat cheese, for dinner and had some red peppers on the side.

It’s a gray morning here so far today.  Hoping the weather holds up later today so the Fi and I can take a nice long walk as we planned.  The weather here has been weird.  60s/70s all weekend and through today.  Now they’re saying weather will be in the 90s tomorrow through the rest of this week  – ew!  I love summer but why can’t the temperature just hang around 80?

 

Day 1 May 22, 2012

Filed under: Welcome — cookiesingymclothes @ 2:52 pm

I jumped out of bed at 5:15 this morning.  I know.  I almost looked in the mirror to make sure I didn’t wake as a different person.

I opened my bedroom door to 2 hungry Ridgebacks perched right outside, patiently awaiting their breakfasts.  Peanut is a different story.  I had to rub her belly till she opted to get up.

Time to wake up, Princess.

Breakfast was followed by 2 walks down the old bike path.

One walk for these guys.

Blurry iPhone pic.  I was struggling between the 2 leashes and, oh I don’t know, keeping up with these two big cuddlebugs.

And then a shorter walk for Peanut.  She prefers our evening stroll.

Yay for my first successful morning of the LiveFit strength training routine!  My arms were killing me by the time I finished with the different kinds of pushups.  My upper body was in shock.  I modified the equipment moves with free weights, using the same motions that the machines would.  The plan is to repeat day 1 at the gym after a day’s rest so I can complete the workout appropriately.

I am so happy that I actually completed the Day 1 workout.  Not because I feel like I burned a ton of calories, or already feel toned from it, etc etc, but because I did it.

Felt awesome.

And I even made breakfast.

Breakfast was eggs.  I did 2 egg whites and then a whole egg.  Some goat cheese in the mix.

2 giant glasses of water.

And a stop at Dunkin’ for my usual Med Hot with Skim & 1 Splenda.  I really need to break myself of that habit.  But I just love it so.

 

 

 

 

Oh hey, Motivation. May 21, 2012

Filed under: Motivation — cookiesingymclothes @ 3:51 pm
Tags:

aahhh Monday.  We meet again.

Per usual, the weekend went by much too quickly.  Especially since I woke up to rain clouds and puddles and an earache.

A drastic change from the gorge Florida weather I was out in allll weekend. 90 and sunny -> hello luva.

Tampa was lovely.  A short trip, but fun & productive.

I also lost 3 pounds somehow.  I was really away at fat camp.

I have been thinking a lot about what-to-do as far as an exercise & diet plan.  As I mentioned previously, I really want something that will get me/keep me motivated.  I am over & past the fad diet, crash diet scene. I just want something that will help me on my way.

I am going to start with the strength plan within this plan: Jamie Eason’s LiveFit Trainer.  I actually first heard of this program through this post by Running to the Kitchen.  I didn’t really consider it at the time though.  I have a poor track record when it comes to follow-through of a strength program.  ahem. unread copy of “New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women.”  The more I researched LiveFit trainer through, as far as the different exercises within the phases, I was sold.  The movements start relatively basic, perfect for getting back into it.  Also, some of the moves require equipment that will get me back in the gym.  And it’s free.  So NBD if halfway through, I want to move onto something else.

In Phase 1, Jamie asks for strength-only with no cardio.  Well. I’m not going to act like that totally offends me since I haven’t exactly been the most active person as of late.  (This weekend it did feel nice to be running.  And I am actually jonesing for a 5k or something.)  If I get the urge to go running or hit the elliptical, I’m going to go with it.

The nutrition plan is pretty restrictive, almost protein only.  (I am getting flashbacks of mean-Erin on Atkins a few years ago.  I was a nightmare.)  Honestly, the thought of 5 egg whites for breakfast on day 1 is slightly nauseating.  So I am going to up my protein & vegetable intake and minimize sugar & bad-carb/processed food intake.  Basically eat healthier & in a more balanced, structured way.  Go figure.

I hate saying the plan starts tomorrow, but the plan starts tomorrow.  ;)

Back to work on this dreary day.

Er

 

 
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