Here We Go Again

Last year around this time I did the Advocare 24 day challenge. I dropped a little weight and lost a ton of inches. And I just felt better. It's a full body cleanse.

I recently talked M into doing it. Here is where I should mention that M is pretty much all muscle. He has done a great job sculpting his body. His only problem area is the little bit of a gut he has that he has been wanting to get rid of. Since M eats pretty healthy anyway, I think he is going to do a great job with the challenge and will drop the gut in no time at all. I agreed to do challenge with him. M is pretty stubborn when it comes to working out and the supplements he takes. He has been doing this for a long time and he sticks with what he knows works. Talking him into doing the challenge was no easy task. We recently went to an Advocare mixer that my brother had at his house and M agreed to sign up for the challenge if I would do it with him. This works out because I have been doing a great job with working out and I'm not see too many results. I think the challenge will help kick start my metabolism and get me on my way to losing my last 12 or so lbs.

I was introduced to Advocare by my brother who is now and Advocare advisor. He is serious about making a business out of this and he has me hooked. I have used several products since doing my first 24 day challenge and have all the faith in the world that this really works. Two of my favorites are Catalyst and Slam. I also recently started using their brand new product, LeptiLean. I'm liking it so far.

Drew Brees is the national spokesman for Advocare... I believe he endorses it for free. That never happens.

Valentine's Day Surprise And Getting Fit

I received a surprise in the mail last Saturday...

Heather participated in Melissa's Valentine's Day swap and sent me these goodies. An amazon gift card (so I can buy books for my Kindle... yes!), Burt's Bee's pomegranate oil lip balm (yum!), and a card she made herself for me to pass on (love!). It's adorable and I wish I had the talent to get crafty. Thanks so much Heather!! But... I'm not sure where your blog is. PLEASE email me or leave me a comment.

M and I agreed not to do gifts for each other for Valentine's Day. We had plans to go out for Mexican and I was happy with that! But, M surprised me and got me some charms for my bracelet (up until now, I only had one charm, so I never wore it). He bought me an I love you charm, and a cat and a dog charm. I love this... we have 2 cats and a dog, so it's like our little family on my bracelet. I am a lucky girl.

Next, let's talk about getting on the fit train. I'm not doing so hot... at all. I am participating in the 12 week challenge at our gym. I do love it. The workouts are HARD. There's cardio, HIT training and some weight training. The problem is, we are in week 5 and I have not lost a single pound.

I have also been following the weight watchers plan and tracking my points... kind of. I do great at this during the week, but on the weekends, not so much. Obviously, I need do better with that.

I think I just need to add in more cardio. I lost 30 lbs last year by running, so it is becoming more apparent that I need to add that back into the routine. I am also looking to sign up for a few 5K's, so that should help motivate me.

How do you motivate yourself to exercise? What are your favorite WW friendly recipes?

Patience Is Not My Virtue

Work has been... crazy. And stressful. More layoffs last week. One person in our department is gone and we have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off to make sure the work load is taken care of. I think we were (and still are) in shock. I work in the Replacement Parts division which is BUSY right now. But as busy as we are, our company is still trying to get through tough times.

Most days (or so it seems, lately) I am exhausted by the time I get home work (or the gym). I vent to M on a regular basis about how I can't stand it any longer. I posted this. There have been tears. I swore I would spend every minute I can in the evenings looking for a new job... you know, one where I will actually be appreciated.

I have no patience. When I want something, I want it NOW. I have been realizing that I need to accept that not everything will happen at the pace I want it to. While I have come to the conclusion that my job is just that... a job. Until something else - that I actually WANT to do - comes a long, I need my job.

I have been searching for opportunities, but for one thing, there are not a lot of jobs out there. Second, the last thing I want to do is take the first job available only to end up in the same predicament I am in now. For now, I'm just trying to focus on the positive and doing whatever I can to de-stress.

On a happier note, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

I will post tomorrow about the gift that I received in the mail from Melissa's Valentine's Day swap.

Valentine's Day

Melissa is hosting a Valentine's Day swap. I thought this sounded like fun, so I signed right up. I LOVE Valentine's Day. Go ahead and tell me it's a holiday created by Hallmark, I don't care. Regardless of my relationship status, Valentine's Day has always been one my favorite holidays. I look back fondly at the little gifts/single roses my dad gave (and still does) to me and my sister... it reminds us how special we are. I enjoy creating these special moments for my nieces, too.

Anyway.... Melissa put together some questions for us to answer...

1. Handmade gifts? Love or hate? Love. I wish I was crafty and was good at making my own handmade gifts. It's not really a talent of mine, but I love receiving them.

2. Gift cards? Love or tacky? Love.

3. What type of theater do you frequent (like Cinemark, etc)? I honestly can't remember the last time I went to the movies, but Cinemark and Regal Cinemas are the closest ones to me.

4. Coffee? addict, like, can't stand? Starbucks, home, other? Total addict. I love making it at home (putting cinnamon in the coffee grounds is amazing) as well as from the coffee shop.

5. Do you read? Books you've been wanting to read? Type of books you like? I love to read. All kinds of books. If it sounds interesting, then I'm interested in reading it. I recently bought a Kindle and I'm obsessed.

6. 3 Favorite running accessories. iPod, Garmin, and ????

7. Kids? Ages? No kids.

8. Pets? I have 3. Chihuahua/Terrier mix, Stewart, and 2 cats, Bailey & Jameson.

9. 3 things you can't leave home without. Chapstick, cell phone, water

10. 3 Favorite magazines. Current subscription? Self and Women's Health... and the occasional Cosmo...

11. When you are in a running slump, what motivates you? Friends or signing up for a 5K.

12. Complete the sentence, "My favorite thing about running/exercise is __________"
The way I feel when I'm done running.

13. Shoe size/t shirt size. Shoe size is 8 1/2 or 9 and shirt size is L

14. 3 Favorite Valentine's candies. Pretty much anything chocolate. Not a fan of the conversation hearts though.