Start of Month Two

I have had no reduction of actual pounds, however, I feel like my overall appearance is improving!  And really, that's all that matters!  :-)

Today, I had a SIP meeting.  Mrs. Lafleur asked for a MK brochure!  Yay!  So, I went home, gathered up that as well as a couple of samples and brought it back to school. I put it in her cubby in the office.

I went straight to Cajun Fitness afterwards.

I started with 10 minutes on the elliptical. I did abs and upper body today.  Finished with  46 minutes on the treadmill. Did 2 minute intervals of walking/jogging for the first 2 miles and then fast walking for the last mile.  Finished those first 2 miles in under 28 minutes :-D

One Month at Cajun Fitness

I think I see progress!   My legs are a little more smoother than a month ago!

Being that I can see a difference in a month, it gives me incentive to continue to see what another month brings!

Oh, yesterday, I did 5 minutes on the elliptical, did upper body and arms; free weights too.  Then did 40 minutes on the treadmill, which equaled to 3 miles. First 2 miles (28 minutes), I did 2 minute intervals for walking and jogging.

New Shoes

Found these at Stage :-D... on sale for $25 woth a 30% discount!  Woohoo!
Bought another pair of shoes for a little more also.  Both pictures are posted.
Of course, both pair are for my workouts :-D

Do 10 minutes on the elliptical, ladies' room workout, and 8 minutes on treadmill... my new shoes were hurting the back of my ankles! :-(

Worked out legs and abs.

Weighed 159lbs this morning with my sweatpants, shirt, 2 bras, and shoes on.

4th Week

I did 10 minutes on the elliptical 2 times yesterday!  Woo-hoo! Did my legs and abs in between.

Today, recumbent bike for 30 minutes.

Trainer

So, I'm working out in the Ladies' Only part of Cajun Fitness when a lady starts talking to me.  Her name is Hallie and she's a certified trainer. She tells me how she has gained weight due to hormone levels and aims to get back to fitness.  She says I look like her, solid... in other words, fit under the fat :-P. She wants to help me!  Since we have the same goals, we'll start training together Monday! :-D
Woohoo!

Sweat!

Me, after doing 5 minutes on the elliptical machine and my little cardio routine :-P

3rd Week

Whew... I did 5 min on the elliptical machine, did the cardio workout Courtney  (manager - 18 yrs old) gave me, and most od the machines in the Ladies' workout room.

Day 8!

It's Friday and I've completed a full week at the gym, Cajun Fitness, in addition to the 3 days from last week!:-)

What I've been doing is 5 minutes on the treadmill (5 incline & 3.5 speed) then going to the ladies only part of the gym and doing each machine.  I do 3 sets of reps with increasing weights and decreasing reps.  I do more on the ab machine though.

No weight loss yet but my back does feel better already!

And today is day 24 of that Advocare challenge that Jared wanted us all to do.  I find it has done nothing for me. So, my last time doing that.  Waste of $200!

Day 3!

Friday.  Won't be back to the gym until Monday.  Sore inner thighs!  Did all ladies' gym circuit; three times.
Also doing Advocare's 24-day challenge.  I don't see a difference.  $200 for what?  Yeah... last time doing this challenge.  I haven't lost any weight due to it nor do I feel more energized or stronger. It's not making me regular because I was that already.
Anyways, this is a pic of me on the ab machine!  Haha. Whew!

Gym Time!

So, I have joined Cajun Fitness!  I have a year contract!  I WILL lose weight!!! 
I weighed myself at the gym and was 158 lbs.  I even worked out today!  Two circuits in the Ladies' Workout room and 40 minutes on the treadmill;  even did like 8 minutes or so of jogging!
My goal is 130 lbs.
Let's see how long it'll take!

Cycling

Went 5 miles today!   I'm going to try to up my mileage by one every week.

My weight is 150.2!  Woohoo!  That's without eating yet.

154 LBS

Love this!  Very true too!

Bicycling

Went 4 miles :-)  I love this app that came with my Galaxy 4!  You can track you walking, running, cycling, and other exercises as well as calories!

Calista went 2 miles.  Ursula and Wyatt went 1 mile.

I think it's working... I'm weighing 151 this morning... 😆  It's a start!  Hopefully,  I keep this up and get in better shape!!!

Summer Plans

Started Monday, I have the kids and myself, riding our bicycles... at least once to the end of the street and back.  I've been going 3 times which equals 3 miles.  Calista joined me Monday and Tuesday but went back home after the 2nd time yesterday.  Ursula & Wyatt just go once and come back home.

Then, they have to read an hour a day!  I really needed to implement that a LONG time ago :( 

My dad texted me last night and will probably come this weekend because there's a dance thing going on in Baton Rouge over the weekend.

Allison Offshore, where Jeremy is currently working, is very slow :(  They laid 8 guys off a couple weeks ago and at least one other guy quit soon after.  Jeremy has 2 weeks of vacation... so, we will go up to Arkansas to visit Jason at the end of this month... not for 2 weeks though!  LOL  He told the guys at Allison that if work didn't pick up by the time he came back from vacation, he was leaving too.  A superintendent at IPS, where he worked twice before, called him.  Said, I heard you were looking for another job?  :)  They pay $30/hr.  Jeremy will probably go there... even though it's an hour more a day that he's driving... but, I don't think he cares too much about that since he loves riding his motorcycle.

Vacation... well, we have 3 Pitbulls.  Titan is 18 mths old, Zelda is 8 mths old, and Veya is 2 yrs old.  What I had suggested, and Jeremy liked, was that we bring Titan with us to Arkansas... only because if we need to get our neighbors to make sure our dogs are ok (they have an automatic feeder - just need to make sure they have water), Titan could knock them down (only because he's excited; not because of meanness).  The females will be happy to have others here and I don't think they'll do any harm... just can't run around Zelda because she likes to grab shoelaces...

My only Great-Nephew, Elijah, will be turning one this month!  I wish we lived closer!  The last time I saw him was his birth and few days afterwards :((

Oh, of course, all the kids passed... Calista's going to 9th, Ursula's going to 6th, and Wyatt's going to 3rd.

Jeremy's 2nd Tattoo

This was done this past Tuesday.  Tattoo artist is Ronald aka Monster.

Not long after he started,  Jeremy passed out!  That was freaky!  I was peeling garlic, looking at him... and he was jerking forward... I thought he was messing around and thought, "Why would he be doing that knowing it can mess up his tattoo? ".  Ronald looked at me and back at him and then Jeremy started falling forward slowly...  I got to him before he hit the table and sat him back up.  The whole time, his eyes are open and he has a blank stare.

I hold his head in my hands and start calling his name.  He didn't respond for a little while.  Ronald said he squirted some water on the back of his neck and that's when he started coming around.

I gave him water, made him a quick sandwich, and he ate a banana.

He said he felt light-headed right before,  he felt his belly,  thought he had to fart.  Doesn't remember any of it, of course.

He felt fine aafterwards and got this whole thing done in one sitting. 

Ronald and his girlfriend, Stephanie, left around 11 p.m.

I cooked a chicken and sausage gumbo over brown rice.  They liked it and had seconds. :-D

New Happenings

Ok...
So, two weeks ago, Ursula got braces on her top teeth.  Brought her in for a check-up today and everything's great!  Orthodontist said she can't stop wearing the splint/retainer on her bottom teeth because that top tooth has jumped over the front bottom one now :D  However, in the van, Ursula said she will continue wearing it because it hurts her to bite down when she's not wearing it.  I bring her back in 4 weeks - April 29th.

Calista's drawing a lot (naturally) in her sketch pads.  She started writing lyrics now :)  I had her watch a little Ukulele tutorial videos on YouTube... I mean, we have that Ukulele, a Violin, and an Electric Guitar that is just sitting around!  My kids need to learn to play!  LOL  But, I didn't know she had started writing lyrics prior to having her watch the videos... So, that was a bonus :)

Wyatt... he's doing fine :)  Just have to keep those lips hydrated!  Man!  If I'm not on him about putting lip stuff on, his poor lips get so chapped!  He fights with our little neighbor, Chase.  Chase is a year younger but just as big; probably weighs a little more than Wyatt.  They play well sometimes but usually it ends up with them being mad at each other.  Wyatt plays better with our other neighbor, Sarah, who's also a year younger; even though he used to say she was just annoying... LOL  Yeah, his words...

Ok... I'll update myself last...

Aimee... oh gosh... Aimee is in the local jail in Paulding County for being in contempt of court. :(  She'll be there for 30 days or less.  She can't bond out.  She has to agree to do a psychological evaluation before she can leave.  And it's with the same doctor who did Hal's; I guess that won't go over very well.  Because of her not behaving in court, Hal has the children on the weekends.  Not full time because the child protective services want to take it slow.  The children are all in public school too.  Roman's in 9th (I think), Soleil's in 8th (the only one in her correct grade), Jasper's in 4th, and Eliana's in 1st.  Should Aimee get out (which could be within 2 wks), she isn't allowed to see her kids until the next court date; which is in beginning of May!  OH!  And her house is going on the auction block in the meantime!  She wants Angele to help her with the paperwork do keep it off while she's in jail!

Angele has been going up to Georgia, to go to court with Aimee.  I feel badly that she's the only one going but, she's the only one available... we all have kids :-/  She and Shane found a house to rent in Thibodaux; so, I guess they'll be moving soon.  Thankfully!  They were all living in the Raceland house with Dad!  Her & Shane, Cherie & her 3 kids, Jared and his 4 kids when it was his turn to have them... WAY too many for one small house!

Cherie... Cherie just called me the other day to tell me she's getting married next month!!!  Yep!  Her 3rd marriage; 2nd guy.  She's marrying the guy she was living with in Georgia, Richard.  He's coming down here for Easter vacation and they'll get married on that Saturday.  She'll stay in Louisiana until after school is over and then move up there with him.  Racquelle will stay and graduate from Central.

Jared... not sure about what's going on with him besides that he has been going out drinking on the weekends and having either Cherie or Racquelle pick him up to go home.  Cherie said he's made a profile on PlentyofFish... :-/  And rutted up the yard really badly trying to get unstuck. 

Dad quit his job.  Said he just wasn't into it anymore.  Said it took time away from Dancing and Romancing... LOL  Has a girlfriend... forgot her name.

Mom... she's still mom.  Trying to convince her to move into that high rise in Houma.  The monthly rent goes according to your income; it would be so much cheaper for her to live there than in the house in Montegut that's in bad disrepair :(  I love that house... but, my uncle and his kids left it in shambles :(  It's so sad :(

Jeremy... he's always complaining about something hurting.  We figured out that he can't handle dairy; so, that's out.  Right now, he's saying it hurts where his butt ends and his leg begins.  Says he can't run even if he wanted to.  Along with whatever's going on in his gut... said he feels something there; an obstruction; won't go check it out.

And finally... me...  Yesterday and today, I've been spotting... it shouldn't be time for my period because I just had it 2 weeks ago.  I looked it up and it said it could be ovulation bleeding (which I don't usually have) or perhaps even implantation bleeding... which would be crazy and totally unplanned... guess we'll have to see what happens in the next couple weeks.  But, it almost looks like I'm about to start my period again!  Could it be the start of menopause?  Oh gosh... already???

I've been having chronic lower back pain... when I sneeze, it hurts!  So, I've been doing crunches and back exercises to strengthen my core... to help alleviate this pain! 

Washing Machine

So, we bought a brand-new Frigidaire front loader Electrolux from Lowe's about 2/3 years ago... and thankfully, we've kept the warranty on it!!!  I've called for the repairman at least 5 times!  Finally,  I call again to get another service order and talk to this chic named Ebony :-)  She looked at our warranty records and put in a request for us to get a brand-new replacement!!!

I think it's awesome that of all the appliances we've bought over the years,  this is the ONLY time we bought the extended warranty!!!

What's wrong with the machine?  Well, it's been leaking this whole time (well, since the first call for the repairman)!  He's replaced the motor twice already as well as other parts and still,  it leaks :-(  Now the door is trying fall off!  I have to lift it to close it and there's something rattling inside of it.

I think this may be the reason we get another extended warranty for future purchases!

Icicles in March!

So, yeah... how weird... it was cold enough the night before last to freeze the water into icicles... on everything outside!   Yes, really pretty... but how strange...

Weight; AGAIN... :-/

Ok... I didn't do the 3 day fast from the first blog of this year... last half that time... just wasn't into it...

Today is Wednesday... What I've started doing since this past Monday was using our work out bench!  LOL  Imagine that!  I have 70 lbs  on the top part... doing leg raises while on my back with that and pushing it up with my arms as well.  Doing these 2 exercises periodically throughout the day.  Doing about 20 reps each time... oh yeah, doing calf exercises in between reps.

I weigh like 155lbs right now!!! argh!!!  I HATE being fat!!!  The summer before last, I had gotten down to the low 130's and I felt GREAT!!!  LOVED being that weight!  Was so happy with myself!  What happened from then to now???  I've NO idea... it's so irritating.  I hate my weight fluctuations!  I guess it's all a part of getting older and my body slowing down... argh

I'm also taking HydroxyCut Hardcore Elite.  I have 2 bottles; bought BOGO from Vitacost.com.  What I've noticed is that I'm having a harder time going & staying asleep using it...

Mary Kay

So, I indulged and bought a skin care set from her (at her cost) :-D. I need to do more to try to make my skin as youthful as I can!
I started the regiment Sunday night, when I got home from Raceland and I've been doing it twice a day and will try to continue until it's gone :-D

Snow!

So it snowed last night!  By the time the kids went outside, it was ice :-/
But they still played a little bit... would come in every so often to warm up :-)

Fasting Once More

Well, I've decided that I'll start the new year off with a 3-day water fast.

Gosh how I detest fasting!  I hate not eating when there's good smelling food around!

I'm on day 2.  And today is Friday... Our usual pizza night!  Argh!

However, I started today at 147 lbs... I had gone up to 153 lbs over the holidays!  So, that's encouraging :-)

When my fast is over, I'll eat small portions of food.  Also, I'll try to do some sort of regular exercise daily.  Xbox One has some free 10 min exercise thingies I can easily do... just have to do them.  Ten minutes isn't a long time... just have to wear two bras so that they aren't bouncing around uncomfortably!