Last post of 2011!

Hey party people! I hope that all is well in your neck of the woods. This is my last post of 2011. You all read about what I did in 2011. This post I will focus on what I want to accomplish in 2012.

1. Get under 200 pounds and hopefully to 172.
2. Try Crossfit and maybe TRX , I love trying new exercises anyone have any ideas? I have tried Zumba, Pilates, aqua fitness, hot yoga, pole dancing, what else is there?
3. Find the love of my life. Or at least someone to spend time with until he comes along.
4. Pay down at least 2 out of the 5 pieces of debt hanging over my head.
5. Run as many races as I can this year ( I think I ran 5 this year). Take my 5 k time to under 33 minutes, my 10k time to under an hour and four minutes and my half marathon time to under 2 hours and 31 minutes.
6. Make more money

There we go! Simple yet satisfying.

I am not looking forward to the next few weeks at the gym. It will be packed with "new year's resolutioners", oh well things will be back to normal by March break, it always is.

I wish you all the best. A very happy New Year, see you in 2012 (hopefully less of you ;) ), for more blogging, more workouts and more fun.

Love you to pieces!

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My Top 10 Workout Songs of 2011

I love end of the year round up's. I went through my iPod and looked at the top songs that I listened to. Since I mostly listen to my iPod at the gym, these are my top 20 most listened to songs of the year;

1. Down On Me --Jeremih feat. 50 cent
2. Beggin -- Madcon
3. F**k You -- Cee Lo Green
4. Party Rock Anthem --LMFAO
5. Moves Like Jagger-- Maroon 5
6. Mr. Officer-- Vybz Kartel
7. The Show Goes On-- Lupe Fiasco
8. All of the Lights -- Kanye West
9. Born This Way -- Lady Gaga
10. Just Can't Get Enough-- Black Eyed Peas


What do you think of my list? Any song you would add?

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2011: What a Great Year

Hello! First, I would like to welcome all my new followers. Thank you so much for taking time to read my blog, it really means a lot to me. This has been my second year blogging and it continues to be such a positive experience. Last year I created 300 posts and this year I am close to 200. I went and took a look back on the highlights of this year:

- I went to Trinidad and Tobago in February 'played mas' and partied hard (take a look at the February posts for some great pics)
- I ran my first 10 k race in January and since then have completed 2 more races bringing my time down to an hour and four minutes.
-I ran my first half marathon in May (one year after starting to run). This was definitely the highlight of my year.
-Tried Pilates for the first time.
-Tried hot yoga for the first time, fell in love and completed 30 hot yoga classes in 30 days in November.
-Saw Prince in May
-Tried pole dancing, don't love it but I was willing to try it again.

I am happy to say that I am nowhere near the 238 I was at when I started the blog two years ago or even 272 that I was at back in 2008. I am still reaching to get under 200 and hopefully reach my goal of 172.

I haven't been to the gym yet today. I am suppose to run tonight but it is -15c (feels like -26c so I think that I am gonna stick to the gym. I think that I am going to go to spinning and sweatshop class.

Have a great day!

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Bad, bad, bad....

Yesterday, I stepped on the scale at 217.6 starred back at me. Here we go again. I am just going to get back at it. The other bad news is the half marathon race in February is sold out. I am so sad. I put myself on the waiting list, but I know that it doesn't look good. I am going to sign up for the Ottawa Half that is happening in May this weekend so I am not disappointed.

Yesterday, I went to Pilates class (that shit is hard) and I did 30 minutes on the step mill and 30 minutes run on the treadmill, I finished with 15 minutes of arms. Today, I went to spinning class and did 15 minutes of running and 20 minutes of weights.

Tonight we are suppose to run 6 k with the group but the weather outside is bad.

In other news, I went to see the new Mission Impossible and it is really good. If you like adventure go check it out.

Have a great day.

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Spring Chick Challenge For 2012

This challenge is hosted by Stormy@Big Butt Theory and will start Jan 2 and end March 19th 2012.




So here are the focus points for this challenge:
Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.  
For example it could be:
losing inches
improving your 1mile time
fitting into a pair of your used to be favorite jeans.

My goal will be to fit into a size 12 piece of clothing or smaller. I have NEVER owed anything in a size less than 14

Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal or Sparkpeople or WW. Whatever tracking works for you. IF you are on maintenance and do not really track. What nutrition goals do your have?
How many calories daily or weekly?
How much water will you drink daily?
What items, if any, will you limit?

I will aim to drink 2 l of water a day, keep my calories under 1750



Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.
Think variety.
Start small and build.
Try to incorporate a variety of exercises as to avoid boredom 

I will try and do some sort of activity everyday. I will complete my half marathon in February in under 2 hours and 31 minutes ( my last time)

Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.
Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

No problem here we go!!!!

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I'm Scared

Tomorrow is weight in day and I am scared. Last week I was at stellar 212. I hope it is not more than 217, after all the merry Christmas eating. I am off work two weeks so the plan is to try an work out twice a day. Last Saturday (Christmas Eve) I ran 14k with my running group and it was good ( considering I haven't run in almost three weeks) the only problem is that I need warmer socks and gloves. My hands were so cold in my Dollar Store gloves (did I mention that it was -14c?) we're not working and I had to borrow the mitts of a girl whose hands were sweating. I finally decided that I am going to sign up for the Half in February.
Today was a good day, gym opened at 1 pm so I did 15 minutes on the step mill, 15 minutes of arms and a spinning class.

Hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Have a great week!

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I Give The Best in Me in Everything I Do

Merry Christmas blogger family!

Last Tuesday I was at 212, but now it is the holidays so I have relaxed a little. I ran 14k yesterday in -14c and let me tell you that it was no joke. Memo to self that I need some warmer socks and gloves. Tomorrow another group is going out to do another 14k depending how I feel I will join them.

Have a great day!

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All is Well With Me Now

      I was a no show at the gym yesterday.  I had to pick a friend up from the airport, then we went to dinner (we shared a salad).  We then stopped by a friend to wish her a happy 30th birthday, we had a small slice of cake. By the time that all was said and done it was 10:45 pm.  If I was still at the 24 hour gym I would have gone and done a quick workout, but my gym closes at 11 pm. Boo!  I came home and lifted a few weights following the Nike training app.  Tonight I am FINALLY heading back to my running group,  I am sure they think I have fallen off the face of the Earth.  We are running 5K tonight, then I am going to Sweat Shop class.


Tim asked what I have for breakfast during my liquid eating (I hate the word diet).  I usually have a protein shake; 1 scoop of protein powder, about 1 tbsp peanut butter (the only ingredient is peanuts), 1 cup almond milk (vanilla or chocolate). Delicious, filling and nutritious.


Ms. Bad Mama Jama asked, "Is body design teacher new to you? Perhaps, she was worried you would get overwhelmed...as a "newbie"..." when I talked about my teacher's comment, when she saw that I was lifting 8 pounds as my "light weights". All I have to say is that I always get that comment.  Everyone lifts 5 pounds as their light weight, so when they see someone lifting 8 pounds everyone goes cray.  I don't mind.


Have a great day!

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I Am Proud of My Accomplishments and Goal

     Things are going well, I went to Body Design class and it was great.  My only comment is that I hate when people comment on the amount of weight I lift.  Usually when you take a weight class you have to have a set of heavy and light weights.  I usually take 8 pounds as my light and 10 pounds as my heavy.  I am strong, I may look a flabby in the middle, but I am strong.  I love lifting weights and I can really see a different in my strength from a few years ago.  I love it. Yesterday the teacher tells us to grab our light weights and I grab the eight and she says, "Oooooooooh, 8 pounds".  I don't know why that bothers me, but it does.


     I then went to spinning, which wasn't bad, I think I am going to try another teacher, because I didn't work up as much of a sweat as I would have liked to.  Tonight I have to pick up a friend from the airport so I do not think I am going to make it to running.  I have reserved a spot in the evening spinning class, so hopefully I will make up.

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I Believe In Myself

  I am up 2 pounds this week at 216, but I am not surprised because of the debacle of food and drink over the weekend.  Like I said in the last post, I am sticking to a mostly liquid diet (soups, shakes, juice, tea, etc...)  for the next week or two.  I am pushing the envelop because I am just fed up of myself and I just want to be out of these damn 200's.
   On the gym front, I did 30 minutes on the StepMill and 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes of weight training.  Tonight, my goal is to do the Body Design class followed by Spinning (I have a reserved space today).


Have a great day!

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I Am Achieving Important Goals Today

     Happy Monday bloggers!  This weekend was interesting.  On Friday I finally made it to  the gym. Woo hoo!  You know I really like the gym, just the feeling of being there lifting those weights getting all strong...I got in my hour of cardio; 30 minutes on the StepMill (I love that beast) and 30 minutes on the tredmill, I find running on the tredmill so boring (I would much rather run outside) so when I am on the tredmill I vary speedwork with incline stuff to really work up a sweat.


     Friday night, we went out for a friends birthday to a bring your own wine restaurant.  I am usually not a drinker, but one friend brought this yummy wine called Relax and it was so sweet and delicious that I had to have a few glasses.  We had a great time.  I had mussels with french fries and a creme brulee (I am a sucker for a good creme brulee).

Pic from the night

     I thought my night was over, but then I got a call to pick my friend up from the bus station because she come in from out of town.  She asked if I wanted to go out for our friend's boyfriend's birthday.  Since I already had make up on, I agreed.  We headed downtown and let me just say that these guys were ballin'.  Bottle service a la max.  The Grey Goose was flowing. The music started off questionable, but got really good quickly.  Then at 2:30 (remember clubs close at 3 am here), FOUR bottles of champagne come to the table!  BOO-YA!  Fun times all around.  I was in line to get my coat and the girl in front of me says, "I wish I had her boobs I wouldn't be cold"  I look around and realize that she is talking about me!  I guess I had a puzzled look on my face because her friend apologized.  I just laughed inside.


   Saturday was a bust.  I did make it to breakfast with friends.  Sunday, I finally made it to the gym.  I need to get all this crap out of my system, so I am trying to stick to a liquid diet for a few days, until I feel better.


For all you readers out there you have to read Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  Amazing book!


Have a great day!

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I am full of enthusiasm and vitality

   *Sigh* I had another fail of a day on the exercise front.  I had a meeting at work that finished late and then I had to head to the mall to pick up a give AND I was exhausted. For those of you that are counting that makes two days of no exercise, this is so bad for me, that I know that my weight has gone up.

I am dead set on getting in some gym time today.  I am going to try and leave work a little early and head to the gym for a bit.  I then have a bday dinner tonight.   I am so happy that it is Friday!

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I Feel A Sense of Belonging and a Sense Of Rightness

     Last night's workout plan was a bust.  I had to wait an hour and a half for the car service from my car company to get me to pick up my car.  I then had to go to a work function so there was no room for exercise.  This made me so sad.  Today is a new day, I am suppose to run 5k and then I am going to Sweatshop class at the gym.

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I Celebrate Today By Looking My Best

     Hello blog world, as per usual my workouts never go to plan.  The spinning class was full, so I did 30 minutes on the Step Mill, the devil but I love it. Followed by 5 mins of the rowing machine (I wanted to try it out and realized that I am not a fan) and then I hit the elliptical for 25 minutes.  I had set out to do an hour of weight, but it turned into 30 minutes. In the last post LA asked about my weight training schedule.  Here is an example of a full body weight training schedule.  I usually do each exercise for 8-15 reps and I do 3 sets increasing my weight each time.


Whole Body Tight and Toned

• bench press
• chest flye
• standing dumbbell press
• bent over flye
• one arm tricep extension
• lying dumbbell extension
• dumbbell front squat
• dumbbell lunge
• dumbbell stiff legged deadlift
• hamstring curl
• calf raise
• bent over two arm row
• seated hammer curl
• standing reverse curl
• dumbbell crunch
• stability ball roll up

I do these one after another until I don't want to do anymore this can be 15 minutes or half an hour, or an hour.  Yesterday, I did the first 6 exercises in half an hour.


If you need instructions to any of these exercises you can google or YouTube them or just ask and I can post some pics.


As for my resources I like the Nike Training app for my iPod.

  I also LOVE Oxygen magazine and website.

 Muscle Fitness Hers is another favorite of mine

I also tend to check out bodybuilding.com for ideas.

I hope this helps.

Tonight, I will head to the gym for an hour (30 mins Step mill, 30 mins weight training), then have running we are doing 5 hill repeats.

Have a great day!

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I Enjoy Good Health And Energy Today

  I weighed in today at 214! Yeah, 2.4 down from last week.  I am really working hard and I am really aiming for that first goal of 211.  Last night I didn't want to go to the gym after work, then I sat down and started reading a few blogs and motivation kicked in.  I read about all these people that are doing such great things and are trying so hard to lose weight and I figured that I had to go.  I swear the hardest part about the gym is getting there.  I was disappointed because the regular teacher of the Tabata class wasn't there.  I don't know about you, but I hate when I take a class with a new teacher and it doesn't meet up to the usual teacher's standards.  So I decided to do 30 minutes on the step mill and 30 minutes on the StairMaster.  I then went to Aero step class.  Today, I am going to an hour of weights (try and attack the whole body) and then spinning class.


Have a great day!

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I Focus on Positive Thoughts and My Body Responds

 This has been a good weekend.  I raced in the 5K Santa Shuffle on Saturday, I had  a time of 34:25 not the greatest , but I attribute that to all the hills in the race.  I also ran 10.4K with my running group on Sunday.  The weather is still nice thankfully, so I enjoy the long runs, next Sunday we are doing 10k again.  I am going to have to start to walk with water and snacks because as the runs get longer, I get so thirsty and hungry.  I usually munch on these energy jelly beans, but I think that I am going to try different types of snacks and I will let you know which ones I like best. 
      I got the December newsletter from the hot yoga studio that I did the challenge at and they are going to start Community Classes for 5$ in the new year.  Once a week teachers' in training will give the class for 5$.  I am totally down for this because I really cannot afford the 17$ a class price.


Tonight, I am going to Tabata class, followed by Aero Step.


Happy Monday!

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I Enjoy Good Health and Energy Today

     I am done!  30 yoga classes in 30 days.  I am so happy that I did this challenge I have seen so many improvements.  My balancing is still crappy, but not as crappy as it was a the beginning. I did develop a little pain on my right side below my lower back but above my butt.  Luckily, we had a physiotherapist come and speak to our running group, I asked him about my pain and he said it could be from the daily yoga, specifically posses like pigeon.  Since Thursday the pain is much better but still present.  I will monitor myself for a week, if the pain persists I will go see a physiotherapist.

     I am now back at the gym.

For the month of November I accomplished my running goal of 68.7K, the goal for this month is 10% more which will be about 75.6 K. I can definitely do it.

Today I ran the 5K Santa Shuffle, the weather was great, no snow of ice like last year, but the hills in the race always kill me; the first 2K is all uphill, then another 1.5K downhill and the final 1.5 is uphill.  It is that final section that is the killer.

Hope that everyone is having a great weekend! 

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