Day 2 went great!  I started out with running 20 flights of stairs first and then I did the strength training.  When reading the exercises for today I thought it was going to be all arms again even though the description said it was pretty much all back.  Well I was quite surprised!  I was lifting weights and using a tension band but my arms feel fine.  Definitely used the muscle groups that it said in the description, I suppose I shouldn't be that shocked.  It always amazes me the way the body works.  Feeling good, hoping to get in another run today.

67 min 233 calories burned

So it's been a while.  I've decided to start doing Jamie Eason's LiveFit 12 Week training program.  Let's see how it goes.  Today is day 1.  I just finished a yummy and healthy breakfast.  I'm off to get changed and then do Day 1.  I'll be back shortly to report!

Alright, that was good.  I found the pushups the most challenging.  There were a couple of exercises that use gym equipment that I had to modify as I'm doing this at home.  Still pushed my hardest and my arms are a little wobbly!

I'm still deciding if I'm going to do her workouts everyday or alternate with a cardio day. . . I'll see if I can get an hour run in today then I'll make the call.

37 min - 121 calories

Boot Camp Day 3!!

Last night I just couldn't fall asleep until just past midnight so I wasn't sure if I was going to make it to boot camp this morning or not.  Then when Geoff got home from work around 12:30 he told me that he needed to work early so I needed to leave boot camp early.  Well if that's not two signs to skip boot camp then I don't know what would be!  So I still set my alarm and drifted off to sleep.  It went off around five to five and I thought for a quick minute and decided to take the day off (cause I haven't had enough days off already, haha) and went back to sleep.  Then at 5:20 I got a text from my boot camp babe letting me know that she wouldn't be making it today.  I text back to let her know that I wouldn't be there either.  I stared at the ceiling for about 30 seconds and thought two things, "Everything happens for a reason, if BCB hadn't text me then I wouldn't have woke up AND I've never regretted a workout, however I have regretted skipping one".  After a quick assessment of time and what needed to be done before running out the door in less then 10 minutes I decided to get my butt in gear!

Wowzers!  It was a tough one today!  It was all upper body today.

We started with a short jog then jumped right into it!  The first circuit was bicep curls, jumping jacks, tricep extensions, jumping jacks, pushups, jumping jacks and last chest presses.  We did this twice through and boy were my arms shaking.  Then we did that same circuit but instead of jumping jack we did step ups and downs on a park bench.  Moving on. . .  spider pushups, good mornings, arm rotations, sit ups and dips.

To be completely honest it was an effort to turn the wheel on the drive home.  I had to leave 15 minutes early today so I missed the stretches and the whole drive home I promised myself that I would stretch as soon as I got home but my bed was just calling my name far to loud to not go and make sure it was ok.  I'm pretty sure that I'm going to regret not stretching tomorrow (or Saturday) but the two hour nap was totally worth it.. . for now.

Tomorrow is suppose to be a hard one, eck!

I'm so happy that I pushed myself to go.  It's so easy to not and there a million excused to not but the ONE reason to go is far more important than any other that I could have come up with.  It's raining and crappy outside but I feel great!  I'm excited for tomorrows adventure!

Hearts mean love!!

Boot Camp Day 2!!

Cardio cardio cardio!  That was the name of the game for boot camp day 2!  We met our new trainer, Heather, she's just as wonderful as Andrea so I think I'll be alright with the switching.  She also claims that she's the "nice" one of the two (they own or use to own a boot camp workshop or something together, haha, I pay attention good) and their training styles seem to be pretty similar.

Today we started with a brisk walk, jog, walking lunges, jog and then a brisk walk again.  Then we moved on to sprinting across a field and running backwards to the starting place, did that a couple of times.  Next we alternated between doing toe pushups against a tree and jumping switches, during that I have to say the tree bark on my hands hurt more than the exercise, so that could mean either the tree was really rough or I wasn't pushing myself hard enough, I choose to think the first option, haha.  After that we went back to the field and did big squat jumps moving forward across it, way way harder than it looks!  Quick water break, back to the field for some alternating high knees and bum kicks, one minute each.  Squat walks forward across the field and back.  Alternating high knees and bum kicks again.  Squat walks to the side across the field and back.  Quick water break and STRETCHES!

It went well.  Definitely feeling some sore muscles, especially the boobie ones from all the pushups, who knew my knockers would ever get this sore!  Between boot camp yesterday morning, dodgeball last night and boot camp this morning I think a day off is deserved!

Unfortunately I'll be missing boot camp for a few days because I'm heading to Edmonton to see my family and go out to the lake.  I'll still be keeping up on my own though and working my Mama along with me!

Hearts mean love!!

Another great day, great day!

Boot Camp Day 1!

Well the hardest day is over.  I don't mean the hardest day physically as today was just a fitness assessment, I mean the hardest day of being nervous about who the trainer was, who is all in the group, the fitness levels of everyone, all that jazz!  Our group is fantastic!  My partner in crime, Alynn, you mean the world to me, I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for you, thank you!

Here's where we are, the trainer (for two of the four days each week) is Andrea, super nice and motivating.  Our group, fabulous, seriously, I love our group already!  The fitness levels of everyone, who cares, this is about me!  Any fears I had are long gone, this is one of the best decisions I have ever made!  Loving the boot camp (hoping to remember that mantra in a few weeks, haha).

Today we started with a light jog for about 5 minutes.  Then moved on to push ups, I did 10 traditional and 18 knee.  Sit ups, haha, oh my, I certainly need to work on those, I did 19 with Alynn holding my feet, thanks again love, haha!  Last of the strength training was a wall hold, as if you are sitting on an invisible chair, I held for 127 seconds.  Some stretches and a job for 10 minutes to wrap it up.

Overall I think I did pretty good, I probably could have pushed myself a little harder but for my first day I'm very content with burning 461 calories in 59 minutes.

Dodgeball tonight and boot camp day 2 tomorrow morning!  Woot woot!

Hearts mean love!!

Frustrated! (WARNING WARNING Angry rant ahead!)

I don't know how to get out of this awful funk!  I want to scream!

The never ending snow and being sick for three weeks has definitely played a part but I'm just so frustrated!  I'm frustrated with losing weight, I'm frustrated with money, I'm frustrated with potty training, I'm frustrated with house cleaning, I'm frustrated with sick little ones, I'm frustrated with living so far from my family, I'm frustrated with living so far from my friends, I'm frustrated with BEING FRUSTRATED!

You know how when you spell a word or look at a word so many times it starts to look funny, yeah, I'm there.

I've tried all my "relaxation" techniques, nothing is working.  It feels like the more I'm trying to get everything together the more it's all falling apart.  "Jack of all trades, Master of none".  I first heard that quote spoken to a class mate in high school and thought it was the worst insult someone could be given, especially to such a talented girl.  I, on the other hand, feel like the walking talking definition of that quote.  I have/want a million things to be going on.

I use to have quite a knack for juggling all that life serves up but where I am currently, no circus will be hiring anytime soon!  I'm not sure which is the lesser of two evils, focus solely on one aspect and let everything else fall apart or struggle to maintain (I use that term very very loosely) all that is thrown my way.

Urgh, blah, "Debbie Downer" at her finest.  My rant is over, deep breath, big smile and off I go!

Hearts mean love!!

Day 14 — Talk about the cuteness of your pets.

The cuteness of my pet, there could not be a worse topic for today!  So far today, my dog (which I acquired through marriage) has puked on my bedroom floor and on my couch.  She is currently outside on the step begging to come in between hacks and coughs.  What?  Is that not cute?  Down right disgusting is what it is!  I suppose that is one of those things that you just deal with when you have a pet.

Alright, I feel bad about not saying a single cute thing about our dog, so I added a very cute photo of her.  Enjoy!

Sort of off topic but still pet related, yesterday I was at the pet store and I came across disposable diapers for dogs!!  I couldn't stop laughing and I decided that it needed to be shared with the blog world!  So, if nothing else, I hope you enjoy the photo.

Hearts mean love!!

P.S.  If you are looking for another blog to read, check this one out!

Day 13 — How do you think others view you?

I'm not doing very good at this "30" day challenge am I?  Oh well.  Here's today's, how do I think others view me?  Oh dear Lord, I have no idea.

I think others view me as goofy and emotional.  Both are correct.  I really don't know what else to say for this one.  Hmm, well if you have a view on me that you'd like to share, feel free to leave a comment!  Maybe I should retract that. . .

Hearts mean love!!

Day 12 — Explain how you got one of your scars.

Oh I have a good scar to tell a story about, actually I think it's the only scar I have.

On the right lower part of my neck I have what looks like a little patch of freckles.  It is very easy to see in the sun but a bit hard to find indoors.  It is in fact a scar, a burn scar.  The culprit of my scar. . .mushroom soup!

The incident happened in 2004 the day before my cousins high school grad.  I was making myself some mushroom soup for dinner.  I brought it to a boil and immediately poured it into a bowl.  I then grabbed the bowl, my cell phone, the house phone and a spoon and headed downstairs to watch some TV with my brother.  I'm sure you all remember Juice Box.

Well if you've known me for any length of time you know that I fall on stairs all the time.  I don't know what it is about them but I just seem to have trouble grasping the concept of how they work.  I've fallen up stairs, down stairs, I've fallen over railings and while standing still on a step I've managed to tumble to the ground.  I'm sure this makes it quite clear as to where I'm headed with my blog entry.

So hands and arms full up I was on my way.  I don't think I got past the second step when I slipped.  Phones everywhere, spoon nowhere to be found and boiling mushroom soup all over my face and neck.  I screamed while my back pounded on each step until I hit the landing then I was just screaming.  My brother came running up to see what the hell was going on.  Apparently because of my shrieks he thought I had broken my arm and was preparing to see a bone sticking out as he reached the landing.  There was soup everywhere!  Literally everywhere!

I could barely wash my face after that because the burns hurt to bad.  Think of the last time you burnt your hand on something and how bad it hurt to do anything, yeah, that was on my face and neck!  The next day I looked like a sloppy burn victim who had gotten beat up as well.  I looked like I had two black eyes and caked on egg all over the right side of my face and down my neck.  It was horrible.

Well it all healed up, thank goodness!  The only thing that remains to keep the memory of that awful moment is the patch on my neck that never went away.

Hearts mean love!!

Day 11 — Share a story from your childhood.

Well blog world, it has been far too long!  Back to the 30 day challenge!

Today's challenge is to share a story from my childhood.  Oh my goodness, I have so many.  I suppose a fond memory that sticks out would be of my brother (I can't remember his hidden identity name. . ) Juice Box.  It wasn't one incident but something that he use to do with me when I was small.

I loved stuffed animals and I had a ton of them.  Well Juice Box use to hold them a certain way so that he could control their arms and head to make it look like they were moving on their own.  He'd do a different voice for every single one of them and get so into it that you would forget he was doing it all.

He would do this during car rides, at home, wherever.  I'm pretty lucky to have such a great brother!

Hearts mean love!!

Need your help!

Hello blog world and readers!  I need your help!  I've entered an Avon Voices singing contest and my video was posted!  Very exciting!  I now need votes to push me through to the next round.  It would mean the world to me if you could have a listen to my video and if you like it, vote for me.  Thanks!  If you really like it, feel free to pass it on!

http://www.avonvoices.com/watch/NDMyMzAxOTQ4OTc5NERvd250b3du

Day 10 — Talk about a regret you have.

A regret I have. . .wow. . .that's heavy.  I try very hard not to regret things.  I think that everything that we do, good or bad makes us who we are today.  After taking a few days off to really think about this I have came up with my only true regret.

My regret is letting an old friend hurt me so badly over and over again to the point that it now affects each and every one of my relationships with other women. 

I'm so guarded because of everything that she did to me that now, as soon as any girl friend gets close to me I run away or I cause tension just so that she can't hurt me the way my old friend did.  The positive side is that I'm finally seeing myself do this and trying to vocalize it to those friends who I feel I do this too, so that at least they know and will hopefully understand that I love them dearly. 

I want to do a little shout out to my dear and oldest friend Claire for helping me see that I don't need people like that in my life and that I never did anything wrong in the first place.  Everyday I'm healing a little more but it's hard.  Thank you Claire for helping me find peace.

I suppose I couldn't have stopped the first incident but letting her back into my life several times afterward so that she could hurt me all over again was 100% my fault.

You can't hurt me any more!  I'm more than done with you.  I don't need to delete you from my life because you don't even deserve that much.  Yes, my heart still carries the scars you gave but it doesn't carry even one ounce of you.  Goodbye.

Day 09 — A photo you took.

I hope you aren't looking for a life changing, inspirational, moving photo. . . This is Cali, the wonder dog or the devil dog, depending on the day.  I like to dress her up for Halloween, she on the other hand does not like to be dressed up for Halloween or any other day for that matter.

Hearts mean love!!

Day 08 — Describe the style you had 10 years ago.

Oh goodness, I don't know.  Hmm, let's see I was really into very tiny shirts and old man pants.  Yes, you read that correctly.  OLD. . . .MAN. . . . . PANTS.  An idea shopping day for me would be to hit up some trendy store and find the littlest t-shirt there was and then mosey on over to Value Village to find some old man pants. 

I wish so dearly that I could find a photo, hmm, alright, I'm going to try. 

Ok, I've hunted and I could only find a couple and not the one I was looking for but blog world, mark my words, I'm going to keep looking and when I find it I'll post it because it sums up my style very very well. 

Anyhoo, the photos that I did find are pretty close to how I attempted to dress often.  I say "attempted to" because my dear Mother would have none of it and forced me to sneak clothes out of the house on a daily basis, can you imagine! 

Speaking of my parents and my dress code.  My poor Daddy to this day swears I'm colour blind and has tried over and over again to give me fashion advice, I still haven't really mastered that whole "matching thing".  Sorry Daddy. 

My Mother on the other hand stole my absolute favourite shirt when I was about 17 and still will not admit it!!  Mother, if you are reading this, could you come clean to the world please.  It was this itsy bitsy grey shirt that said "Las Vegas 69", damn I looked hot in that, haha.  So hot in fact, that I will never ever ever in a million years even let my girls know that it existed.

Moving on from the clothing.  The next part of my style, if you can call it that, would be the key ring I wore on a chain around my neck.  I never went anywhere without it.  In fact, I even wore it to grad, around my ankle but it was still on my person.  That's a long story I'm certainly not getting into right now but I will say that I cried my eyes out when I lost it while swimming in the lake.

There you have it.  Eighteen (actually, a little closer to seventeen but you get the just of it) year old Jenn.  Enjoy!

Hearts mean love!!

Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy.

Today's assignment is a photo that makes me happy.  I've never added a photo to a blog so this will be a learning process.  Cross your fingers for me that it works.  The first is a photo of Maggie and Lily when they were around 2 months old.  It's so goofy but even then their personalities shined through!  The last one makes me happy and sad.  It's a photo of my Grandma and Grandpa Micklos the last time I seen them.  I miss you guys so much, love you.

Hearts mean love!!

Day 06 — Your favourite music video.

My favourite music video??  Oh dear, I have no idea.  Are music videos still on TV?  The only shows I ever see on Much Music or MTV are teen reality TV.  That being said, even as a kid I was never into watching music videos.  Hmm I guess I'll just think of the couple that come into my head.

I suppose "Video Killed the Radio Star" would be the first music video that comes to mind.  I love the song but the video is awful, almost painful to watch all the way through in all honesty.  It was the first music video MTV played so that's exciting I suppose but it is truly awful, haha, sorry Buggles, I love you guys just not the video.  Wait, what the hell am I going on about, this is suppose to be about a music video that I like, haha, oh my, how I go off like that I'll never know.

Alright let's try this again.  "Groove is in the Heart", please don't ask me to explain why I like this video but I do.  Something about the way they dance just makes me happy inside.  Especially at 1:14, 1:22, 1:26, 2:07, 3:15, 3:51, yeah, ok, that was a complete waste of time writing that all down.  The whole thing, it's great, stop judging, I can read your mind!  The slide whistles are pretty rad, let's all at least agree on that.  And come on, that weird little pony-tail-bun thing the one guy is rocking, who isn't jealous of being able to pull that look off!?  Ok ok, I'm done now!

Hearts mean love!!

P.S.  Check out this wicked fine blog!!

Day 05 — Your favourite quote.

I believe that this will be the hardest of the 30 days challenges yet.  My favourite quote! I have so many, haha.

"You might not be there yet but you're closer than you were yesterday."  I don't know who this is by, I'm sorry.  Right now that one hits close to home with me, working out, weight loss, blah blah blah.  It is very true though.

Einstein, oh Einstein, what didn't you say that I don't love, laugh at, smile at or be inspired by.

"Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it."

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."

"Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater." (one of my favourite of his, makes me laugh so hard, can you imagine someone complaining about a Math problem to Einstein and expecting to get sympathy, hahaha.  Alright, I believe I've now officially shown my geeky side to the blog word.  I am and will always be a giant geek at heart.  I try to maintain the presence of a witty, cool and relaxed person but in all honesty, put a calculus problem in front of me and that's where the real Jenn comes out to play.  The smile that creeps on my face while solving quadratic problems. . . mmm mmm mmm.  Ok I'm drooling now, back to the quotes!)

"If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."  

I need to stop now, if I write any more of his quotes I will just get geekier and geekier on the inside and it might creep to the outside, we don't want that to happen.

My last Einstein confession (hmm, how did a blog about quotes turn into an Einstein honesty session?), I have this book of a lot of his findings and many of his quotes and whenever I'm feeling down I pull it out and read it.  I swear it is the best cure for what ails you.  Ten minutes with that man and I'm one happy lady. . .don't tell my husband!

Side note - None of this leaves my blog!  I swear I will act like I have no clue who the man even is if you so much as utter one word about this to me in public, haha, kidding.  I'm ready to come out of the calculus curious closet!

Hearts mean love!!

Day 04 — Your favorite book.

This is an easy one! My favourite book is "Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella. It's such a great book. It's about Lara, a 20 something girl with a very active imagination who gets visited by her dead Aunt Sadie. Sadie is very very bossy and gets Lara to do a bunch of wide and wacky things. The book makes you smile the whole time and even laugh out at some parts. There's humour, romance, touching moments and even a bit of murder mystery and detective work.

It's a very light fun read. I probably re-read the book once every 6 months.

See you tomorrow!

Hearts mean love!!

Day 03 — Your favourite television program.

Morning all!  I missed posting yesterday, my bad.

So the challenge today is to write my favourite television program. . . I really haven't been watching tv much at all lately.  I use to record the few shows I like ever week but then my special receiver crapped out and the satellite company informed me that it was an error me having the receiver in the first place so they gave me a sub-par product to replace it so now I never use it.  I really should cancel with them, not happy at all.

Moving on from my rant, haha.

Alright so my favourite shows. . .

My overall love would be "The Office", I felt like it was losing something last season but this season has done nothing but make me love it all over again and laugh until I'm crying.

Cheezy sitcoms, "Parks and Rec" and "Community".

For cartoons, "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" are at the top of that list for sure!

Absolute crap that I can't get enough of, "My Super Sweet 16", "16 and Pregnant", "Teen Mom" (Wow, there seems to be an awful trend starting there. . . ).

My true addiction, "Hoarders" it's sick and it makes me gag but I cannot turn it off!  Then I found it on Netfliks, oh Jebus, that was a marathon I'll never forget!  (Can't wait for season 2 to arrive!!!!)

That's it that's all!  Sounds like a lot but I maybe catch a couple of those shows once a month.  I'm not into the doctor drama shows or the crime investigators. . .boring. . .

Hearts mean love!!

P.S.  If you haven't already, you should check out this great blog!!

Edit:  I completely forgot about one very sick addiction that I have (deep breath) Jersey Shore.  That is all. 

Day 02 — Your favorite movie.

My favourite movie, that's an easy one.  Stranger Than Fiction.  I'm a huge Will Ferrell fan but this isn't a typical Will Ferrell movie at all, funny enough.  Their first kiss is probably my greatest movie kiss of any movie I've ever seen, yes that's including the Notebook rain kiss, haha.  The best scene in the movie, well in my opinion, in any movie is when he says "I brought you flours".  I well up every single time I watch it (she's a baker, if you've never seen the movie before).

So that's it, my favourite movie and just a couple of reason why.  Watch it!

Hearts mean love!!

Day 01 — Your favorite song.

Hmm, well, I know I'm going to get a lot of flack about this one but my current favourite song is "Firework" by Katy Perry.  Now I normally can't stand her and I don't necessarily like her singing the song but the feeling that song gives me is pure joy.  A rush of inspiration and a feeling that I can accomplish anything!!  Watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw and Katy Perry's sparkling boobies aside, tell me you don't honestly feel great after listening to it!  Yeah I totally just watched it again, I should probably go and run a marathon now, haha!  Seriously, that's how great I feel after listening to it.

Well Day 1, we did it!  See you tomorrow!

Hearts mean love!!

30 Day Blog Challenge!

So a very dear friend of mine started a 30 day blog challenge (The Ramblings of a Courageous Coward) and I think it's great so I asked him if I could copy his idea and with his blessing. . .here I go!

Day 01 — Your favourite song.

Day 02 — Your favourite movie.

Day 03 — Your favourite television program.

Day 04 — Your favourite book.

Day 05 — Your favourite quote.

Day 06 — Your favourite music video.

Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy.

Day 08 — Describe the style you had 10 years ago.

Day 09 — A photo you took.

Day 10 — Talk about a regret you have.

Day 11 — Share a story from your childhood.

Day 12 — Explain how you got one of your scars.

Day 13 — How do you think others view you?

Day 14 — Talk about the cuteness of your pets.

Day 15 — A poem you wrote.

Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly).

Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.) that is your favorite.

Day 18 — Tell us about your best friend.

Day 19 — A talent of yours.

Day 20 — A hobby of yours.

Day 21 — A recipe.

Day 22 — Your deepest fear.

Day 23 — Write a love letter to yourself.

Day 24 — Reveal your most guilty pleasure.

Day 25 — If you have tattoos, show them. If not, talk about the tattoos you want or why you don’t think they are right for you.

Day 26 — Talk about the last “random act of kindness” you encountered.

Day 27 — The last thing that made you cry.

Day 28 — Say something to your 15 year old self.

Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days.

Day 30 — Share what you have learned, if anything, about yourself in the last 30 days.

So wish me luck!

Hearts mean love!!