Wanna hear three very fun and super exciting things to me?

Ok, so as I was laying down this morning on my mat preparing to do more AB work at Boot Camp(which from now on we're going to call BC for short). After a set of full sit ups, I lay stretching my abs a little. I sucked in my stomach as far as I could and it went inwards! I know that this may seem very silly to some of you, but honestly, I cannot remember the last time my stomach actually went like concave. I mean really concave, like when skinny people suck their stomachs in and make themselves look like the very sad commercials and real life photos of Ethiopians back in the 80's thin. I mean let's not get carried away here, but it went in. And for some reason, that made my entire day! Sometimes, when you are reaching for a VERY large goal, the little steps, the little things...make all the difference in the world!

Second fun and exciting thing is simply that at BC this morning we did jump ups. John took us over to these concrete tables where we had to do 5 pushups against the bench and then jump up from the ground to the bench, and then from the bench to the table. I was kind of freaked out about the jumping part but 1). I did great! 2). The imagery of getting my big old body up that far twice in a row for 12 tables. 3). I was in the group of women that did all of the jumps with two feet, not just stepping up or a one footed jump. (2 feet are harder) AND IT FELT AMAZING!

Off to Weight Watchers!!!
Third thing: I have lost anothe 3.4 lbs this past week and am down a size in everything! Measurements are a go(a week early). 2 inches from my waist, 1 inch off my arms, 2 inches of my bust(mostly back fat yippie!!!), 1.5 inches off of my hips, .5 inches off of my thigh. I have a feeling that will be the area that takes the longest, because it's where I carry a ton of my weight, in my legs and belly. Beth made a great suggestion and when I reach my 10% goal(you've lost 10% of your total weight from when you started), I'm going to pack a box that weighs that much and carry it with me for an hour or so to remember what it was like when I had it actually on my body. And it could be by next week depending on how this week goes. I'm losing the exact amount I wanted to a week so far, minus the second week. But it's ok...It's coming off and that's a joy! They call us LOSERS @ WW and I love it! I'm a loser baby...

Love,

Where are the simple joys of maidenhood?

Tomorrow I get to go watch "Eclipse" with Audrey and I cannot think of a better way to spend the afternoon than watching that movie with a teenage girl! Seriously...If I was with Page, I'd take Page. Or if I didn't have any teenagers in Chicago, I'd go find a group online that were going. There is just something to be said about going and watching a vampire teenage love story with a teenager! LOL

Lately, I have been doing a lot of thinking about teenagers. I miss being in their lives. Helping to shape the face of the future with a friendship that isn't like their parents but can be a positive role model for them. I have always loved mentoring and would consider finding a program to get involved with when I establish my life somewhere. Where that somewhere is I just don't know yet...but it'll come.

So, I'm off to go make a smoothie before we go to PM Boot Camp! Ran for 20 min. today and did a 200 yd swim again. Tomorrow morning is turn around Boot Camp and then a 6 mile bike ride. It's getting harder and easier all at the same time if that makes any sense?!? The good part is that just as it gets easier, my schedule gets kicked up a notch.

Just booked my plans for the 4th too! Going to Redando Beach with my cousin Molly and her hubbster Noah. Going to bring my bike so I can ride on the beach and do a little ocean swimming!!! WOOT!!! I love ocean swimming!

HUGE

There's this brand new show on ABC Family called HUGE. And it's a heart breaker. I loved Nikki Blonsky in Hairspray and I think this show is going to be great. Plus, it kind of fits with my summer.

It's amazing to see how many people relate to the feelings of insecurities no matter what they are. Whether or not you've ever felt left out or unseen, weird or a loner, fat or too thin, ugly, not smart enough, not "something" enough. You fill in the blank.  We all have our issues. And whatever they are...wherever they come from. I pray today, you are feeling loved. To the depths of your core. Because you are amazing.

I am off to swim and run. Going to go "work out" some of my issues!!! I'm so dang punny.

Boot Camp jammin'

It was an early morning around here. A 5:15 alarm wake up call to barely stummble out of bed to get dressed and head out to Boot Camp.
It's nice to be there before the sun is really up because I swear it gets hotter here by the hour.
Beth and I were both a little sleepy, but John kicked it off immediately with a good warm up.
WARM UP: 2 Laps around the pool
CIRCUIT: 5 Stations 1 min/station 2 x's
Abs/cones/agility ladder/arms/resistance bands
Abs: sit in a v on tailbone, hands over head holding a weighted ball above your head raise it up and down, touch right and left 2nd round
Cones: speed skating cone to cone, in and out 2nd round
Agility Ladder: jump in, jump squat out 1st half, sideways twists 2nd half, high knees, and then sideways high knees 2nd round
Arms: jogging in place with weights above head, up and down and squats wtih arms above head up and down 2nd round
Resistance Bands: side twists and reverse flys 2nd round
CARDIO: Between the circuit rounds, jump rope 1 min intervals 3 rounds
first: regular one jump
second: side to side
third: front to back (super tricky)
COOL DOWN AND STRETCH:

In about an hour I will go for my 8 mile bike ride. Longest one yet in training, but they soon increase more frequently. I'm down...BRING IT ON! I can't look too far into the future concerning the training schedule because it overwhelms me. No need.
Beth and I are going to go see an adult movie tonight because Audrey's at her dad's and we can! So, I'm off to look up cleanses and hop on my bike!!! Later awesome friends of mine...

"Meet Up" Wildwood Park Hike

This morning I woke up EARLY! Like 5:15 am early. I looked at the clock and decided to go back to sleep. I woke up again about an hour later and was like maybe I ought to just get up. I chose to go back to bed and finally could not sleep past 7 am. Many a reason behind this. One of them being my excitement and desire to make it to the trail head on time.

The friend B introduced me to last week Karen, told me about this great website, MEET UP where you can go and join different groups that might interest you and they set up meet ups/events for you to RSVP to. There is EVERY different kind of thing you could think of on here. So, I signed up for a couple of different hiking ones, an outdoor adventure one, and a discover LA one. It's in cities all over the country I guess. This being the first time I've ever heard of it, but go check it out, it's GREAT!!!

So, the first event was this morning. A hike to Wildwood Park. I drove over to Thousand Oaks and introduced myself to the 8 others hanging out. Art, Justin, Rae, Mike and three other guys who's names I didn't pick up on because they said them super fast. But I swear the one who invited the other two said their names were Bean and Bean. LOL Who knows?

So we were going on a 4.5 mile loop hike down to Paradise Falls and back up. Art, the facilitator said to take our time and stop whenever we wanted to look for pictures. I was really more wanting to hike than take photos so off I went with Justin and Mike. Mike was a kidney doctor and Justin was in grad school. It was already nice and warm @ 9 am and the walk down to the falls was pretty easy. We took our time and along the route met another guy named Mike who was there to meet our group as well but couldn't find us, so went on his own path. Way to forge your own path son!!! (I'm such a dork.)

So, here are a few of the shots I took today.

I love this picture because it looks like to me that there are two mens faces on those rocks right there (the pic on the left)

And this one I call lady with three dogs. It just seems weird to have a poodle on a walk in desert territory.

Who am I to say who goes for a walk though?

Weird plants, the falls, the boys and sunshine on algae.

Saw some wildlife. Baby ducks, and a coyote and lots of geckos.

This is Lay-Z!!! My lizard brain.

I played around a lot with different settings on my camera. Here are some of those shots!!!

Ok, enough photos. I was having a lot of fun playing with my camera and crouching and finding fun things to point and shoot at. After we arrived at the falls I started to head out on my own and got lost. So, for the next hour I looked for the parking lot and by this point the sun was really super intense and my water was lagging. It made me laugh that I seriously got lost from the group, but I had an awesome time finding my back all on by myself!!!  I found a cave and then finally a trail map! WHOOPS. Who ever says life isn't an adventure doesn't know what they are talking about. By the time I got back to the car, I had hiked more than anyone else and was ready to enjoy my ride home on the freeway with the windows down, the radio up and the wind blowing through my hair!!! This is what I looked like when I returned home! Even used the self portrait setting for this sucker... 

All in all, twas a great morning full of hiking and adventure. Just my kind of Sunday! My church this weekend. Tonight, I have been listening to all kinds of OLD school worship songs, really listening to the words pour out. 

Blessings to all, and to all a good night.

I'm pooped and Boot Camp comes too early in the AM!!! 

GREASE Sing A Long

Last night, my step sister Audrey, my step mom Beth and I drove over to Sherman Oaks to catch a bus over to the Hollywood Bowl. We had purchased tickets to go participate in the first EVER "Grease the movie" Sing a Long!!! Now, understand that I have literally been watching this movie since I can remember. All of my siblings and both parents know the words to a lot of the songs even if they don't want to because for years I've been subjecting them to it either via tape, cd, VHS or finally the DVD. And I'm here to tell you that I knew this would be a top event highlight to my summer!
I packed us a cute picnic basket full of yummy salads, veggies, avocados, brushetta, crackers, tiny little key lime cookies, wine, sodas and water. We had lots of laughs on the way over due to people watching and telling stories.
We arrived, found a table to eat at and began playing one of my favorite games called, "tell a story about someone you see." Audrey jumped head first into the game but it quickly fizzled out when Beth wouldn't join us. She said she likes playing in her head not saying things out loud. So we people watched, I chewed on a piece of glass that we're not sure how it made it's way into the salmon spread, shared a few stories and then went to find out seats and watch the costume parade.
I would suggest that if you ever have a chance to go to this, take your time eating. There's not a whole lot to be seen in the people parade of costumes! Well, maybe in your town there will be more creativity, but people were pretty boring with their pics. The best 4 I saw which most made it to the finals were the movie commercial hot dog, buns, soda, etc and this precious little Danny Zucko who was sitting on a a swing held up by the popcorn and the ice cream!!! Then, there was the Grease Lightning crew with a cardboard made car, the girls in the Beauty school drop out scene (amazing costumes and MY personal favorite) and a woman who made a dress that had amoebas on fleas on rats imprinted on it (super creative but didn't make it to the finals). The host of the evening was Didi Conn who plays Frenchie. It's sweet because her voice is just that character. She was precious with the kids on stage in their Danny and Sandy costumes! 
They had given us each a party bag with fun things to be used during the movie to interact. A rah rah cheer pom in Ridell colors, a scarf in yellow like the one Cha Cha wore in the drag race scene, bubbles for the beauty school drop out song, a whistle for the end when they fly off in the car, and a postcard that was the Grease logo on the front and on the back was the word, "WORD" and we were to hold it up every time they said "WORD" when the Grease theme song came on. They told us to "Hiss" every time one of the Scorpions came on screen, and "Boo" every time Cha Cha or Patty Simpcox came on the screen. We were to say "Ahhh" when there were lovey dovey parts.
So, then finally the movie started and it was for this romantically inclined girl who has always had a huge place in her heart for this movie, I was in "HEAVEN!" We had a lot of fun singing along, laughing at the VERY silly goofy parts and enjoying being outside although it was a bit cold. My blood must have thinned a lot in this amazingly warm weather!
All in all I loved the entire thing! Near the end, Audrey was giggling at me because she didn't know how many of the words I actually knew without reading the prompter. Especially in "We go together" which was probably the most fun song to sing out loud in an amphitheater with 1000's of other people!!! SO much fun!!!
Today is a 20 min. run and swimming. Off to watch the USA v. Ghana and then to the Fitness center to run and swim.

day to day...

Things are starting to feel a bit military, regulated, structured, with not much delineation. Honestly, that is AWESOME because it makes getting up easier, and Lay-Z has to listen to me. It's strange to have SO much time on my hands to do with what I want. It makes you really consider how one spends their time. I like structure. I dig it so much. I'm closing out Week 2 of Tri Training and it's starting to gain momentum. So, I talked to John: my trainer, and we agreed that it's better if I take Sundays and Thursdays off to allow my body some rest. Because with doubles and the daily increase in the training, there's a chance of injury. AND that would suck horrifically.
Yesterday my sister Audrey and I went on a 7 mile bike ride. She was SO funny as the 1:30 afternoon sunshine beating down on us.
"Why in the world would someone create a city in the middle of a desert?"
She kept complaining and moaning behind me. It was a good ride. Sweating that much makes a person feel like they really worked out. More sweat/more water/more pounds lost. Goal accomplished! Yippie...
BOOT CAMP TURNAROUND:
Thurs PM
Very similar to Wed AM
WARM UP:
BIOMETRICS: 3x's each up and back
knees high, kick your butt, side shuffle
ABS: don't really remember but 100 of each and there were 3
PARK CIRCUIT:
Started off with 50 chest pulls with resistance band, jog to next station, 50 arm curls, jog to next station, stairs 10 times up and down, jog to next station, knee ups on the bleachers, jog home.
ABS: I do remember this set. Plank hold for a min. right over on your back to toe touches for a min. REPEAT 3 times
STRETCH:

This morning was awesome! Beth(my step mom) went for the first time. We have to start going early because of her job so I got up at 5:30 and started @ 6:00. I was barely awake, but it was Great!
WARM UP: 3 laps around playground
BIOMETRICS: 3 x's each there and back
knees high/kick your butt/side shuffle/squat jumps(this one killed)
ABS: leg lifts 50 each
STRENGTH/CARDIO CIRCUIT: 25 each using the resistance bands/3 sets
flys/high back kicks each leg/jump roped 100 x's
reverse flys/calf raises/one lap around the pool and playground
halelujah's/lunges/jump rope 100 x's
ABS: mountain climbers/plank to pushup switch up/ 50 each
STRETCH:

Beth did really well for her first time. She's an endurance type of gal so when we had been half way through she was just getting warmed up. It's partly due to her low blood pressure. She doesn't feel like she's sweat enough at that point. I'm like ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I must not have low blood pressure :0)

Two VERY exciting facts:
1). I have a shirt I bought probably 3-4 years ago that's very cute, but pretty much a month or so after I bought it I could no longer button it, so I'd only wear it as an over shirt, unbuttoned. However, yesterday I tried it on to go out to lunch in, and I could totally button it!!! And not like, tight buttoning either.
2). My Favorite pair of pants which I cut into shorts because they got a huge whole in them, used to fit super tight. I could barely button them and often the button would pop and they'd come undone. Oh yay baby, put them on this morning and they are like loose fitting! I'm simply amazed at what eating better and working out has done for my body. And I love it. I love so many things about it, I was considering yesterday why I don't become a trainer myself. Ok, so just a thought, not a revelation or anything.
It was great to have Aud and Beth here to share those moments with. It's a lot different when you are trying to celebrate on your own. Community has a way of making that celebration greater!!!
Anywho...thanks for sharing with me Blog world in my 2 very exciting facts! Thanks for all of your encouragement, support, prayers and love. It's working!!!

Boot Camp turnaround

I'm tired today. Yesterday I had a big day of exercise. And I want to make sure I'm being smart, so I need to ask my trainer what's smart. I don't think I'm pushing too hard yet, like to risk anything but I know that as my training for the tri gets a little bit more intense, I either may have to cut back on Boot Camp OR just take it a bit easier when I am there.

Yesterday was a SWIM/RUN day
I am not swimming heavy amounts yet. 200 yds. free is what I'm supposed to do and I take it to 400 because I'm just like that with swimming. Then I did my 15 min. run.

Then Boot Camp last night @ 6:30 pm
WARM UP: lap around the pool
Started out with a cardio circuit
agility ladder/jump rope
ABS:
25 of each: crunches, toe touches, supermans, bicycles, knee ups, leg lifts, scissors, regular sit ups
ARMS/LEGS/AGILITY CIRCUIT:
squats/lunges 50 of each
chest press/curls 50 of each
sideways, front knees high, sideways, front
COOLDOWN:
1 lap around the pool and stretch

Today: boot camp @ 7:15 am
It was very similar but VERY different
WARM UP:
circuit 100 x's each: jump rope/mountian climbers/side twists on the agility ladder REPEAT
ABS:
25 x's each crunches, bicycles, toe touches, leg lifts, scissors, knee ups, regular sit ups
CIRCUIT AROUND THE PARK:
We started off doing 100 squat lunges, then jogged or briskly walked (I briskly walked most of this leg), Then did 100 rows, then jogged up to the next area where we did 10 sets of up and down the stairs continuous pace without stopping, jogged to the next area, where we did dips with legs either straight out or knees bent, (I'm still at the knee bent point :0)) then jog back to the start.
ABS/LOWER BACK:
Plank on elbows for a min followed by Supermans for a min. If any of us didn't do it we started over. REPEAT.
(second set I was sweating and my arms kept slipping, but I held out!!!)
STRETCH
Later today I have a 6 mile bikeride to go on, but I am going to wait until after I pick up Beth and Audrey from the airport. I can't believe they are coming back already.

Went to WW today and lost another 3.4 lbs!!! WOOT! I'm not too interested in the scale though as I am in the way I feel and the way I look. My measurements will be done at one month so we'll see what I've lost there. Plus, although I'm tired today, I'm feeling amazing!!!

Going to go take a nice nap in the sunshine I think. Oh the California sun is vicious!
Hope everyone is feeling the peace that surpasses all understanding today

Love always,

Currently's

Reading: This/ blog entry

Naming my Lizard Brain: "Lay-Z" like Jay-Z but different

Listening to: Vocal warm-ups CD

Fixated on: the ideas behind Raw foods, the oil spill and trash(this one rarely leaves my brain)

Day 3 Boot camp

My knees feel a little bit like JELLO today and my stomach is achy for sure! Ahhhh...boot camp such a great work out.
WARM UP: jogged twice around the pool/water slide area and I didn't walk any of it. WOOT!
CARDIO/ABS/STRENGTH CIRCUIT: 1 min each
-jump rope/wall sits
-triceps extension/flys using resistance bands
-cross over obliques/abs using thick resistance bands
-reverse crunch with 7 lb weights over head shoulders and up/bicycles
SPRINTS: around the exterior of the basketball court, sprint, walk, sprint, walk 3x's
JUMP SQUATS/SPRINTS: squat, jump from your squat, get posture, squat 15 yds/sprint 15 yds./jump squats/sprint up and back 60 yds.
SIDE SHUFFLE: on your toes, face one way, side shuffle down 60 yds. and back
STRETCH.

I began a practice three days ago before going to bed every night, to say 5 things I was grateful for that day. It is serving me well and as I drift off to sleep I am filled with incredible amounts of joy and peace.

Seeing my girl Blythe from high school yesterday was SO much fun! We spent the afternoon/evening retreating in an awesome home in LA with a pool and jacuzzi! I met her friend Karen and the three of us had a really nice afternoon. We giggled and had long chats about our lives since then, and our lives now, philosophy, religion, politics, love, dating, fears, Sex and the City, movies, LA, Chicago, food, enzymes, wheat, dairy, etc. It was like NO time had passed and it was delightful! I am SO looking forward to meeting B's husband. He was on a weekend trip climbing Mt. Whitney! I love girls nights out. And being with people really helped fuel my soul.

I have begun to make better acquaintances with my fellow Boot Campers as well. Donna and I were partners today. She's 45 and really about exactly my level. She used to run X-Country back in high school and makes an awesome partner. We both push each other to do more.
One area that really needs a lot of work, is my core. I am very weak when it comes to this area and look forward to strengthening it as we go along. My legs have overwhelmed me as to how easily they are coming back in to shape. Muscle memory is very surprising!

Tomorrow I pick up Beth and Audrey from the airport so today I have a lot to do. I am going to put my bed together, clean the house, and try and plan out our meals for the week that they are here so "we" don't order out at all. Perhaps I can post another video soon! Until then...

May the love of God surround you.

Hair Boom Oil Demo

I want to be a part of this...

Sunday morning church

I love God. I am amazed at how he does things.
This morning I was unsure still of where I wanted to go to church, so I decided last minute that I would watch Willow online. The message from last week was about The Road to Emmaus. Luke 24:13-35 You can go here to watch it as well if you want.

The message was around Restoring Hope. And while I was watching it many things came to my mind. Justin and a statement he made about this passage over 13 years ago. He used to call us children of the burning hearts. And so today, I went and found this fun picture to describe my own imagery.

I was also overcome with emotion over a friend I have who has lost a lot of his Hope that once was a burning heart. So, I sent the message on to him in hopes that it might speak to his heart. And then I started looking up some worship tunes to listen to finishing off a great morning message at church. Instead I came upon

this video which sent me spinning in a great way!

I want to do this with my life. Go from shelter to shelter, helping the broken, beat up, sad, souls that God leads me to. Help them by providing a spa day where they feel loved, pampered, cherished, respected. I want to offer my gifts and talents to people all over the world for free. I was just dreaming a lot and got super excited and hopeful once again that this will someday, somehow come to pass! See, restored hope. I am dreaming a lot these days, because I have the space to. I'm going to start brainstorming ideas and perhaps trying them out here in LA? Who knows what might happen. God is magical...he is the giver of good things.

Be blessed mightily

Friday nights

Last night was one of the weirdest Friday nights I've had in a long time. I was SO longing to go out and do something fun with friends, but alas, I really don't know more than like 3 people in the LA area that I'm in touch with and none of them could hang out. I am also on a budget and have to make room for some of these kinds of things or I cannot go out. I would have LOVED having folks over too, but the house is not yet really have people over friendly and again there's the question of who would you have over? This is becoming a strange phenomenon for me.
Me an extrovert is wondering why I'm feeling a bit sluggish. I have my training which I am loving. Training my heart, my soul, my body, my brain, my eating. All of that is going really well. I need to go back to the drawing board and find some time to BE with people. Even just for small increments right now.
Luckily I will be seeing people on Sunday! And perhaps today, I will drive down and visit my great Aunt Hazel.
I'm dissappointed a lot lately with letters. I go to the mailbox, look out and long for a letter, wish it in to the mailbox, but to my shagrin, it's not there. That's is not meant to gulit anyone, just GET on it people! You won't believe how great it feels to write an old school letter! It's funny because I have heard that many people write and re-write letters to make sure there are no scratch outs, and that penmenship is perfect, ect. I am not one of those people. I pretty much just write. And whatever comes out, is what gets sent. Unless it's like a HOLY COW I'd better get this right type of letter, then I'll use a rough draft and editing skills. But that's sort of indicative to who I am. Spontaneous and excited to share with people. Yet, I am learning in communication there is an intended and a perceived. And they don't always match up. Hopefully, when this occurs, people ask questions and seek further understanding while with holding judgements. Or if judgements are made, then there are also discussed.
Sometimes I think about this blog in that format, but when I do, I usually hit the "Save Now" button and don't share with you all what I have written. Because writing for an audience is a good habit to get in as a writer, when you are writing let's say a book or a paper. But, a blog with changing themes daily? Yes, my dear friends this is an arena I care not too much for what you all want to hear as what I want to write. Please don't take it personally. It's more creative free style writing and when it becomes something I don't want it to be, then I will either walk away, push that awesome Save Now button or not post for a day or two. Lately, it's just been exactly what I hoped it would be. A place to share some of my thoughts for the day, A what I am doing and a what I am learning arena.

With all of that said, I would like to ask if anyone would like to hear more about a certain topic, just for topics sake?

Currently Reading: this piece from the book What Happy People Know by Dan Baker
Currently Writing: this blog entry on my other blog
Currently Listening to: A lot of Mixes on Youtube like this one
Currently Watching: Time Travelers Wife, cried. I am a huge fan of Rachel McAdams. I have a girl crush on her cheekbones.
Currently Absorbed in: this piece of literature
Currently Allured by: Tyler's blog

Day 2 BOOT CAMP

I wish I could make a whistle sound on here. Because that's what I would say about how I'm feeling this morning! One of the reasons I LOVE working out is due to the adrenaline rush/high I get post workout. It's amazing and I seriously get kind of side swiped by it every time it happens. I honestly forget it's coming! But, man is it fantastic. Now, to get even more honest, this is not the high I was feeling last night. I may have almost been complaining as I whined about how soar my legs were.

Yesterday, I began my triathlon training. And I was feeling really up to it after resting for a day and a half after BOOT CAMP day 1. Especially due to the limited amount I was supposed to swim. I was only scheduled to swim 200 yds. total for my first swim. Instead, because I love to swim and was feeling SO great, I swam 500 yds. And even that seemed weak to me*.
*Disclaimer...I tend to push myself pretty hard when it comes to swimming because once upon a time, a long long time ago, I was a swimmer. I feel SUPER comfortable in the water and LOVE the feel of my body gliding through it. I have now become aware and I will show myself a little more grace here!
After I was finished, I got out of the water, took a shower and got dressed. The exit to the pool is a nice flight of two long sets of stairs. Here's where I laughed and went uh oh...as I crossed about the 7th step my knees went a little weak. A step 10, I was like crap. And I literally took a step at a time to get my body up the stairs!!! lol
One of the most important aspects in training is to listen to your body. Mine was telling me KRISTEN DO NOT GO TO BOOT CAMP TONIGHT! All in caps and out loud literally. So, I rested and went this morning!
As I woke up at 5:30 my body was telling me it was tight, but my mind was telling me to drink some water and get to Boot Camp. So, onward I went. And much to my grateful surprise, as we began to jog around the sand boxes, my muscles loosened up and said thank you for listening to us last night.
Today's Boot Camp went something like this:
Warm Up: jog 5x's around the sandboxes
Cardio/Abs/Strength Circuit: My group started at Abs: 20 knee touch crunches, followed by 20 bicycles as many sets as you can in 3 min
Next was cardio: sprints up and down the basketball court touching the lines. I forget what we used to call these back in BB days as many as you can in 3 min.
Then strength training with resistance bands: using the thickest one, we did chest presses and rows, 20 each as many as you can in 3 min.
Last was Cardio again: agility ladder this time sideways, each foot inside and looking straight ahead not at the ground as many times in 3 min. Then we did a second round same deal, but 1 1/2 min. instead.
PLANK:On our elbows, plank position hold it for 1 min. then switch to one arm side plank for 1 min. switch to the other side 1 min. 2 x's
Cardio/Ab/Strength Circuit: Abs this time were legs straight up in the air, toe touches, followed by scissors 20 X's each as many in 3 min.
Cardio this time was old school BB drills as well, sprint down, shuffle across, sprint backwards, shuffle across (I loved this drill, totally reminded me of back in the day, felt great! Want to try and relate a memory or emotion to all of the drills, seems to help me push myself and maintain a positive attitude throughout)
Strength this time was a shoulder press then to bicep curl using the red band instead 20 X's/3 min.
Agility ladder this time was a diagonal in and out
Abs: Last set was sitting with legs up, bent leaning back so your balancing on your tail bone, arms in front hold for slotted amount of time, then w/o stopping, arms to the sides in a T, hold, then arms over head, hold. REST. Repeat, but second time around if anyone dropped their arms, we had to start over. You could drop your legs to the ground, but not get out of the ab position. Whoopee this one kicked my booty! My core is under worked.
Cool Down and Stretch:
I was reading a lot yesterday on group fitness and how it really works well for people. I love it being the social bird that I am and really want to figure out how to continue doing something like Boot Camp at least 3 days/week when I end up wherever I end up come September. They say it's great because it mixes things up enough that you don't get bored, there is that competition thing going for you, (which totally motivates me), and you are using mostly your own body weight and simple things that are in everyday places like parks, etc. It made me think of the yoga/Pilate's classes I went to in Nancy's gym in Marion, MT. I loved them because of the women I took them with and the camaraderie we shared. There is a husband/wife group that comes to my class now, and I thought that would be awesome. My dad shared something with me the other day that I will be totally looking for. He said, "find a partner that will support and push you to where you have never been before. That is what Richie did for me when I achieved tri success." KP...Although we're in different cities now, I totally can see you becoming this for me. Or maybe I'll find it in a future mate!? Who knows...I just really looked on with much admiration at this couple and their support of one another.
Thanks for all of your encouragement and love that I've been feeling the past couple of days. Making sure I'm loving myself up too! Both with nourishment, sleep and self talk/soul talk.
My Sue has this posted in her office and reminded me of it today...it's really good self talk for me so I thought I would share it with you. There's a theme in my life right now all about training. I feel like back in the OLD school days of Student Impact when it was highly centered around sports themes and that makes me smile from my head to my toes!!!

"Mistakes are expected and accepted. You’re here for training!!"

I don't have to arrive.
It's about the journey, not the destination.
Grace.
patience.
Self love, not self loathing.
It's an experiment. Go back to the drawing board if something doesn't work. thanks LB!
All such great reminders.
Be blessed

AHHHH therapy

Good Morning Blog world! Just throwing this out there...my strong opinion on the matter of therapy is that it works for me. To have a guided time with someone like Sue to listen and help you walk through the things, the places where you are stuck, is simply, unbelivably and profundly, a gift from heaven.

On with my day...

a "YUCK" attack

Howdy. I knew I'd have one soon, and here it is. My first real day of YUCK! Yuck that says I want to talk to people, connect with them deeply, be around them. Yuck that says, I want to be back on FB for just a little bit because it feels like connection. Yuck because I didn't want to eat the way I'm supposed to eat today. Yuck because Yuck sometimes just takes over. What do you do when YUCK hits you over the head super hard and it doesn't seem to want to go away?

BOOT CAMP kicked my BOOTAY!

This is my Boot Camp website! This morning I woke up, had my glass of lemon water and a banana/nectarine/vanilla smoothie and headed over to Boot Camp. It's only 1.7 miles away from my house so on Friday, I will ride my bike. I was going to this morning, but I couldn't get my tired bootay out of bed and pushed the snooze alarm three too many times. WHOOPS! That's ok though, because I'm not sure I would be home yet. Thinking about getting on a bike after this morning's workout would have taken me a long time. :)
So, there are about 15-20 people that attend this class. Some have been coming for a long time, others began today like me. It's a nice group of people that are there because they love it. I talked to a couple of them and everyone seems to like the drills and John as an instructor/trainer.
Here was our day:
Cardio circuit-
Agility Ladder: kick knees up, both feet land inside of every rung, jog back to the beginning and do it again. We kept going until the group jogging finished two laps.
Jogging: circle two laps around the pool area, out to the street and back.
Jumping rope: same time frame as agility ladder
-Rest for 2 min.-
Squats: 3 sets of how ever many you can do in 2 min. rest 30 sec. between sets
Pushups: same as above
Crunches: same as above
-Rest for 2 min.-
Cardio circuit (repeat 2 x's)
Step ups on a bench with one leg, lift the knee of the other-10 each leg
Dips: 20
Bicycle crunches: 20
Sprint around the basket ball courts and back
Stretch

My body felt amazing afterwards and I asked on a scale of 1-10 1 being the eeasiest and 10 totally wasting you, what was today's workout? The girl who I'd say is in great shape said "a 6.5-7, but it's all what you make of it." That was great encouragement because I was really hoping she wouldn't say like a 4. My body is telling me a couple of hours later that it feels the work I did today and is going to show me as the day goes on. I love that feeling!!!

So, the funny part is that when I asked how many of them are signed up for 5 days/week they laughed! That was my uh oh moment. John said, "Kristen, you're signed up for 5 days/week?" and then crossed me like we were @ mass. So, blessed be my ever changing body and my heart that grows healthier every day!

Drink your water today and be blessed Blog world~

off to Sears and Target!

Bike riding, Yoga, food and Daily observations 6/14/10

BIKE: So I rode my bike last night for about an hour looking for the “Fresh and Easy” grocery store that I thought I knew where it was. I was wrong. This is where handy old GPS used to come in. I rode right past it. WHOOPS! There weren’t people really out and about that I could ask either, so I just kept riding. My yoga instructor today was talking about being aware of why you are doing a pose and what you are stretching or doing. Sue, my mentor/therapist/life coach/ROCKSTAR says to pay attention to what is going on around you at all times and encourages my sight of different things often. Why I say all of this, is because as I was riding last night I was really paying attention to every movement of my body and what was going on with my muscles. My hamstrings and my calves.The way one moves and flexes as another muscle takes over and relaxes the others. The body is magnificent!
The other thing I was paying much attention to were the smells, and sights I captured with my senses. A dog started barking at me as I passed by his fence. Could he see me? Or smell me? Or was it just sound? An amazing little boxed vegetable and flower garden @ this elementary school where I wondered: are the kids in charge of helping keep this precious gift up? And what a blessing it was to me. I said hello to everyone I passed or good evening and smiled because I wanted them to feel the joy I was feeling with the wind in my hair and face. I spotted a cat watching some birds, or maybe it was a nest. ..but that cat was for sure lounging in the evening sunshine prowling the chirps up near the gutter on the roof.
And then I thought about the roses again. They are EVERYWHERE and I am going to be sad to see them go soon. Their beauty has romanced me here in a city where there is a lot of smog and cars. What makes them grow so well here? I thought on this topic for quite some time and I will be asking my mother to explain to me what she knows. She’s an amazing green thumb! And I really like knowing the why’s behind things, so I will ask her.
YOGA: attended my first Yoga class today @ noon. The instructors name is Michelle and she’s a substitute. She looks just like the Octa mom and Allanis Moresette mixed together. She was a wonderful instructor full of energy and laughter. I loved the way she taught and asked questions throughout the entire class.
I really like Yoga. I like that I feel better after I take a class, like my body is so loose, and yet fuller somehow. I like the breathing that is incorporated as well because I really am able to get centered when I concentrate on it. Meditation and focusing on my body, what it’s doing, how it’s feeling, where I ache, control of movements and postures and awareness. All great stuff! And strength building. Wow…I keep visualizing the day when I can stretch farther than my body allows now. Daily, it is a goal of mine. Flexibility is so super important!
FOOD: Like I said in my last blog…food, is tasting different to me. I wondered as I was walking home and thinking on this topic more, if it’s because I also haven’t smoked in over a month. I really quit back when I moved to Chicago, but have had a couple of lapses here and there until about a month ago when I said, no more even social smoking. Maybe with the amount of exercise I’m doing, the amount of water I am drinking, my taste buds are back!? I will have to do some research into this topic. I know that smoking dulls the senses of smell and taste, so I’m guessing that is part of this for sure, but either way…I LOVE IT!


DAILY OBSERVATIONS: Blog world, I have been thinking on this one certain topic. What does a daily routine do for you? “you” being the proverbial sense of the word here. For me, being a person of non structured behavior, having a routine sets me free. Especially my free time. I am able to do and be and spontaneously decide what I do with my free time when I have the rest of my affairs in order with a daily routine.
My daily routine these days looks something like this: (M/W/Fri)
5:15-6:00 get up, go out back and pick a lemon, juice the lemon, drink a glass of lemon water while I prepare breakfast, eat a small snack(smoothie) leave for BOOT CAMP
6:00-7:00 BOOT CAMP
7:15-7:20 Walk home
7:30-9:00 make and eat breakfast, have quiet time, reflection, mediation, ect.
9:00-11:30 Blog, read, journal
11:30-12:30 Make and eat lunch
12:30-2:30 clean a room in the house (unpack stuff), read some more, journal, write letters, paint, play guitar or piano, work on voice stuff,
2:30-4:00 lay out by the pool, do exercises in the pool
4:00-5:30 Bike to store(picking different routes daily), grocery shopping, bike home
5:30-6:30 Make and eat dinner
6:30-7:30 Plan the next day(food/what I need)
7:30-9:30 watch a movie, journal, read, play Wii Fit Sports
9:30-10:30 PM Yoga/or Swim
10:30 BED
The only thing that changes on Tues/Thurs is that I substitute Yoga @ 7:30 for Boot Camp in the AM and have BOOT CAMP in the PM. Wednesdays @9:30 AM I have Weight Watchers and Thursdays @ 9:00 I have therapy with Sue via Skype. Pretty amazing how little changes from day to day. But, honestly it helps me. On weekends my plan is to go somewhere like the beach, or the mountains, or a museum and getting some of the LA culture in. A different church each weekend at least for the next couple of weekends, and soon I will begin visiting friends and family in the area. The tough part about visiting, is eating correctly. I have only been back in Weight Watchers for a week, and let me tell you how hard it can be at times. I LOVE the realizations on how much I have been consuming or what food looks like in regards to health. I’ll explain it like this…
Portion sizes of places are WAY larger than what we need to consume. And going out to eat or eating at a friends home, you have no idea how an entrée is prepared. I am still such a beginner at the Weight Watchers deal, that I don’t know the tricks to making sure I get my points but don’t go over. Learning to gage portion sizes, and what not isn’t as easy as I remembered it to be. So I’m drawing a boundary and holding off until I’m better @ it. 
Currently reading: Self Talk Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild
AMAZING book about “What to say when you talk to yourself” It combines so much of what I’ve been learning about. Especially regarding taking captive thoughts and making them obedient to Christ, and relabeling the names we call ourselves. I am BLOWN AWAY by this and will for sure be Skyping some thoughts on this to Sue this week.
Currently watching: Howard the Duck
I used to watch this as a child and I seriously LOVE this movie with all of my heart!!!

Recently watched: Paul Blart Mall Cop and Talladega Nights
I thought this movie was very cute! I laughed hard at a couple parts and think that Kevin James is is absolutely adorable. I love his tough guy look that he attempts at the end. And Will Farrell is geniously hilarious!
Currently loving: Sweet Chili Sauce from Trader Joes and nectarine and banana smoothies
I have been using the sauce as salad dressing and as a marinade. It’s just delicious. High in sugar but you decide.

Nectarines are totally in season right now and they are delicious with a banana and some yogurt and ice in a smoothie. YUMMY! Go buy a couple, you won’t be let down!!!

Recently listened to: Andrew Phillips “Naked”and lots of Yoga music.

Incredibly gifted worship leader similar to Keith Green in my opinion.

New Age music is all so airy. Like a leaf floating down a river noises!!!

Donald Miller continues to make me think...

He really is my favorite writer right now. And I will get his workbook or attend his seminar if it's at all possible. And lately, I am in the decided opinion that all things ARE really possible if you just figure it out. And find the people you need around you to help figure it out if you can't. And prayer...God answers prayers. He promises to give wisdom to those who seek it.

I am inspired to write about this blog question.

With my current adventure/journey/great story I'm writing I am encouraged to observe moment by moment "what habits are robbing my dreams?"

And because I desire deeply to be known...I'll share a couple. And please feel free to ask yourself the question as well and comment.

1). spending $ where it's not necessary
ie: not living on my budget
2). sleeping too much
3). eating junk: when I eat crap, I feel like crap.
4). drinking alcohol in extremes: I'm too young to feel the hangover so badly, but I'm down for at least a day after a couple nights of hard drinking=waste of my precious life
5). TV
6). Driving: I know this seems like a funny thought, but the habit of driving everywhere when you can walk so many places, ride on a bike, keeping the adventure alive as well as keeping your health in such a better place. If it's within 5 miles right now, I can ride my bike there. So, I've made a commitment to ride my bike to the grocery store all summer. Not go in my car unless I need to pick up bigger stuff that won't fit in my basket.
7). Allowing my thought life to overtake me. We are given the fruit of the spirit of self control and we are able to access it whenever we want. And we are told to take captive every thought and make sure it matches up to what we know is truth.

Being here, simplifying my life, is teaching me what is necessary. I know why I love Montana but I discover more and more reasons...and this is one of them. Not having a TV did not make my life horrible, ok so I had NO idea what was up with the lastest sports game, besides the CUBS, and I had no idea what show was amazing this past week.


I was talking to my friend Luke last night and told him that I may subscribe to the "conpiracy theory" of end of the world or end of America as we know it idea. What would happen to all of us who have become so dependent on our blackberries, i phones, computers, twitter, face book, microwaves, starbucks for our coffee, GPS, ect? Would we be lost. Completley lost without them? I know in my week and three days here so far I have noticed a huge dependecy I have developed on these tools. Tools like GPS and google maps to get me around an area, or help me get unlost. I joke about this but, ask my friend Nate or Justin. They both have been my personal GPS systems once or 20 times! But, what do you do when you don't have a cell phone? Grab a map. I have begun using maps again. And what if you were lost in the woods? I love that my friends Nick and Buck and being a volunteer fire fighter taught me how to use topo maps, and mapping skills. And how to make a compass out of simple things. Or use the sun for direction. I am not even a novice at it, but it's a skill I'd like to practice this summer in the hills/mountains of Southern California.
I'm going to climb the San Gaberials...because of one of my favorite singers: Juan Fernando Ortega. And I hope to take one weekend to go up to Yosemite National Park. Maybe someone will come visit me and we can go then. Any takers?!?!? I've never seen the HUGE redwoods and would like to.

so, I'm off to Yoga and a long swim and weight lifting.
Want to hear one of my favorite things about eating the way I have been? Everything tastes SO good!!! Avacados have so much flavor when you don't add anything to them. The flavors of food without salt and added craziness are incredible.
Another video coming soon.

DREAM BIG blog world...no cliche! The quotes that inspire, put them around you. Repeat them. Become a promoter of these things you believe and think and let it soak into you. Be a sponge with words that will help change your life. Because the one life we are given...today, the day that is new, is a gift. Use it wisely!!!

got a phone...got a video

It's for real...there's really a phone that works at my dad's house now.
Currently sitting at Starbuck's people watching and figuring out where I'm going to go to church tomorrow.
Decided on: MOSAIC
they have a monthly "ladies lunch" tomorrow and I'm hoping to go to that. It seems more probable for me right now than the pool party, but we'll see. An old acquaintance by the name of Steve Sacone is on staff there and I e-mailed him as well as the leader of the women's ministry at the campus I'll be attending in Pasadena. I was hoping for gobs of people commenting on my question but I'll figure her out.
Sent off about 10 snail mail letters yesterday and can't wait to hear from my pen pals!
Rode for an hour today on my bike all over the area...including the grocery store! The one I rode has a cute basket on the front for handy purchases. It was a perfect California day....79 degrees. I would have taken my bike to the beach, but I had to wait for the phone guy a long part of the day. :( I think I will take it down there on Monday!
Each day is truly feels like an adventure lately. Everything from meeting new people, to the quest to become healthier daily to unpacking a house and figuring out where to go tomorrow. I think I do a pretty good job of viewing life this way, but I want to even more so! My girl Jessie posted this quote on her page and I'm stealing it for y'all!!! Ian Flemming, the genius who thought up James Bond said,
“Never say ‘no’ to adventures.
Always say ‘yes.’
Otherwise you will lead a very dull life.”

Took my measurements today and I'm here to say, that's a wake up call. A great one too, because I am feeling SO amazing and can't get sloppy at all. BOOT CAMP won't let me get sloppy. I know. Discipline and learning. 

Hooked up the Blue Ray and Wii last night! It's weird watching Blue ray. Anyone know what I mean? So, while I was working with electronics and technology, I found my dads FLIP! AMAZING...so here is me...and the backyard. ENJOY!!! I did...
Watch here

joined the gym

Yesterday, I went over to Cal State Northridge and joined the gym! There is a great weight room, all sorts of fun machines like a SPINNING bike one, an olympic size pool and a boxing room! Met the trainer, George and can't wait to get started.

Did I tell you all that I'm already down 5 lbs.!!! Who knew moving and drinking H2O could be so helpful. They say in weight loss that weighing yourself more than once/week isn't helpful. Plus it's not so much about the scale, as how you feel. And for this " "Feeler" that works great! The scale will be a quantitative way to know and my outcome goal verses my performance goal. Outcome focusing on the end result where as performance focusing on a process or action. Today's performance goal is to swim 1/2 a mile and do my strength training weight workout @ the gym!!! Posting workouts next week when internet/computer is up and running!

Question for my readers?
If you are shopping for one person and don't want to waste food, is there a better way to shop. Buy what you need daily? Or weekly? Is one cheaper than another? Specifically fruits and veggies?

Almost done reading: Hush and Mayo Clinic Diet
Listening to: 105.1 country station here in LA
Color of body: light-medium tan!!! Because I can! Using waterproof 50 SPF because then sun is killer here, gotta protect that skin!

New thing I learned:
If you drink a glass of lemon water first thing after you wake up, it speeds up your metabolism. Haven't looked it up to see if it's face or fiction yet! Doing it anyways...gotta get my H2O in and it's super refreshing! Plus, we have a HUGE lemon tree outside of our home. Freshly squeezed lemonaide anyone?! SO fun and smells amazing!
Off to LAX to drop off Beth and Audrey. They are off to Montana, lucky ladies!!! I'm all alone for the next 13 days.
Thinking about going to a pool party with people from All Saints on Sunday perhaps. Butn I want to attend Saddleback on Sunday for church! I really want to see all of the churches I've heard so much about here in So Cal: Mosaic, Crystal Cathedral, ect. If you have others please send them my way!!!
I've been here now 1 week and truely feel like this is exactly what I needed. Thanks be to God, the one who wants our lives to be full and abundant!!!

addreSs

Hi! Coming to you from my dads phone. It has been a little crazy around here with moving. 9352 Zelzah Ave northridge. cA 91325 new address!!!
Feel free to write whenever you want! It's like I'm at summer camp but not. Listening to Jacob dylan and david Grey. reading hush by Donna Jo napoli.
More soon...love to all!

first run in LA

It's a must.
blogging about this.
Koke, my dad's dog and I went for an evening jog after dinner tonight.
As we making our way down the road, we came upon three ladies and a beautiful Rottweiler on an evening walk as well. The Rot got super excited to see Koke and bound towards us only to be pulled back by her owner. We parted ways and made our way to the other side of the road. As we went, their group was staying at the same pace as us and the Rot kept happily going up and down the curb all the while staring at Koke. One time, he missed and took a huge spill only to be categorized with the best of clutzes. All four of us women started laughing and stopped our jogs for a moment to laugh at the silly pup who kept his eyes on the prize. Just as we began to move on, I said..."you be careful now there bud."  No sooner than the words had left my lips, he turns to stare at Koke again and runs SMACK dab into a street sign pole! That was it...the laughter rang for blocks! One of the ladies said, it's moments like this you wish you had video cameras following you all of the time. What a you tube video that would have made!

The irony in statement is one, I'm in California where people actually do have video crews following them around everywhere they go AND two, you all really would have loved watching it on Youtube!

If jogging comes this easy all summer, I may just sign up for a marathon. NOT!

preparing to go (written prior to leaving)

I packed today, threw away a TV that reminded me how amazing it can feel to simplify ones life. So, I also rid myself of necessary clothing. Clothing, that without a doubt will not fit properly in 3 months.

To quote Luker:
"Upon further reflection I believe the discarding of the monster television was a symbol for our summers...thrilling risk(and it was!), quick and clean decision making, letting go, and community."


And to this I say AMEN! Bring on the boot camp, the learning how to eat appropriately because my way of doing so thus far is a little broken and all of the other exciting yet challenging adventures that await me!

What are my expectations/goals?

Megan asked me to write down what I was hoping to get from all of this and I find it a very important question. They say if you have no focus, no goal, then you are just going through the motions per say. So, my goal(s).

Goals need to be SMART
S=Specific: what do you really want? Visualize it. Post a picture, a piece of clothing, something that you can see everyday and be reminded what you want.
M=Measurable: this #/amount/whatever by this date. Positive reinforcement with daily affirmations.
I am ________ because I do ________ each day or each week.
A=Action Oriented or Agreed Upon: What steps are you taking to reach your goal and who knows about them?
R=Realistic: Are these goals achievable by approrpriate standards
T=Time: schedule activated. Are your steps in your planner? Have you set a time for each step? Is that time realistic
1). To lose 35-60 pounds by Sept. 15th for a better health and well being for Kristen
                 Weigh in's once/week @ Weight Watchers
                 Using points journal to record food/exercise/daily goals
                 swim daily
                 boot camp
                 walk/run to and from gym and weight watchers meeting
                 yoga and stretching
                 8 glasses of water/day
                
2). Get to a healthy BMI or be working towards a goal of one with trainer by Sept. 15th for a healthy heart and fit body.
                  Measurements with trainer BMI/etc. once/week: more specific once we take original stats

3). To be wearing a size 12 dress, jean, pant, top, etc. by Sept 15th
                  Measurements at Weight Watchers once/week
                  Hang bikini and jeans on wall in room to look for visualization.
                  Hang picture and sayings on mirror in bathroom.
                  Follow schedule, and check and re-check. What am I doing and why am I doing it?

4). Write in my blog once/day even if only a sentence.
                 Spend 15 min.writing what I did today.
                 Training wise, how are you feeling, what crossed your mind today? 

5). Plan and revisit days, daily in order to know where my focus is and goals are.
                 Take a half hour each day to look at tomorrow and go over today.
                 Set daily goals and review them at days end.

6). Read 6 books: one every other week to enhance brain activity, stimulate growth and escape!
                  Write on laptop what your reactions/notes were
 
7). Continue becoming a separate, self actualized and a fully grown up adult.
                  Spend a hour/week with Sue in therapy/life skills on skype
                  Do not be on FB for 90 days.

As the story unfolds...I am so super encouraged. Or is that sunburned? Mental note: use sunscreen
Currently reading: Mayo Clinic Diet and Safe People

LA

WOW...here I am in the land of sun and movie stars and driving really fast on freeways. I was SUPER amazed yesterday as I drove 80 mph and people were still passing me on every side!

I began my journey about three weeks ago when my dad offered me a chance to take 3 months to accomplish some goals without a lot of distraction. I am choosing to quit my addiction to instant information by staying off of facebook and my crack berry all summer. I know this is a shocker to those of you who know me well...but it's all to have a direct and amazing focus.

My goals include weight loss, a triathlon as well as various others. I will be updating my life and progress on here often. Please feel free to leave comments and encouragement! Everyone loves a little props...

Til next time be filled with joy and peace.

Kristen