10.15.2013 – Crossfit Week

It is my personal goal to make it to Crossfit every day this week.  Yesterday’s workout involved a lot of 1492 because of Columbus Day, but I’m not really feeling it as much as I thought I would be today.  Alas, maybe I will be feeling it tomorrow… or even tonight after we work on Power Cleans.  

I have decided that I love the lifting aspect of Crossfit the most.  Functional movements are great, and I love when I am able to get down a box jump or remember how to jump rope after years…but being able to throw weight over my head is an accomplishment that I never expected to achieve.  Yesterday I back squatted 100 pounds… that’s a small person.  I am not sure what kind of goals I would like to set for Power Cleans, but I think I am definitely going to try for at least 65# on my heaviest load today.  I have done workouts with 40# on the bar before (if I remember correctly), but there is a major difference in 40# and 65# when you are lifting it up to your shoulders.  I did push press 50# yesterday in my 1492 workout…so maybe starting with 65# wouldn’t be too unheard of.  

We shall see…

Later Days,

-Jenni. 

09.25.2013 – Back Again

I am back from the dead… or more specifically, the Tumblr.  

I figure that this could be a good place to keep up with a few more written posts, which I do not do as often on my Tumblr blog.  It just is too time-consuming to try to post words on Tumblr when every one else is just reblogging photos.  

The quick notes are that I have joined Crossfit, and I am absolutely addicted.  I love it, and I cannot wait until I am able to make myself go every day.  I am currently nursing a cold, so I have taken a couple days off from classes.  I plan to be back in class tomorrow, barring my sickness getting worse.  I could probably survive today, but I would rather thrive in a class rather than barely get by, so I am taking a little more time to rest.  Once I get used to going to Crossfit on a normal basis, I look forward to adding running club back into the mix as well, which should get me into immaculate shape by the time the summer gets here.

Why would I need to be in good shape for summer?

Because I’m going to England!

That’s right… I am finally traveling outside of the United States, something I have been wanting to do ever since I was a kid.  And it’s not just any trip outside the United States.  I will be flying to England to see my boyfriend.  This girl has gotten herself into a long-distance relationship.  This will probably become another topic of conversation on this blog.  If it wasn’t for running and Crossfit, I would probably go insane.  I have so much to look forward to, but it all seems so far away.  I love that I am able to use exercise as a form of stress relief while I wait for the summer to arrive.  

Since I’ve only done one workout this week, I don’t have much to tell there…so I will be signing off.  

Later Days,

 

-Jenni.

06.12.2013 – Food Journal

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New food journal.

New food plan.

New detail later.

Later Days,

-Jenni.

06.09.2013 – A Quick Reprise

My desire to work at Publix ebbed and flowed quickly.  I am now working on getting a few small jobs to ease me through the month of June.  But that leaves the question: What to do with my summer?

I am continuing yoga…hopefully moreso than I have for the past week.  I’m hoping to work up to three times a week, but I might be cutting it close with my “taking advantage” of the unlimited monthly pass for June.  But it’s worth the extra $20 to know I can go whenever I want without planning out if I will have more visits by the end of the month.  In other fitness news, I am planning on starting the 100 pushups and 200 squats challenges next week.  As I have already tested, Yoga is a great deal more taxing when adding in pushups and squats on alternating days… but I’m up for the challenge.

To take up some more time, I am thinking of joining a book club.  I went exploring today, and I discovered Lake Wales has a library.  I looked on their website, and the books they choose for book club seem pretty decent.  I probably won’t get June read, but I am looking forward to putting July’s choices on my toy, a Nook.  Don’t get too excited…it isn’t a super fancy one, but it will do.  I have snagged a few $.99 deals online to download a couple of books to get me started, but nothing major just yet.

If I’m feeling really lazy, I’m starting Grey’s Anatomy over from the beginning, which is definitely going to be an emotional roller coaster as I relive some of the episodes that got me through high school.

That’s about it.  PreK starts tomorrow.  Early to bed this evening 🙂

Later Days,

-Jenni.

06.03.2013 – June Goals

I have not been feeling up to writing lately.  Mostly because lots has been going on, and the blog is the first thing to fall off the back burner when stress kicks my life inside out. 

School is out on Wednesday, but that does not mean my work is over.  I am planning on volunteering for PreSchool over the summer at an elementary school.  I lucked out and got one that’s less than ten minutes from the boyfriend’s house.  That’s a nother major step…I’ve pretty much moved in with the boyfriend, thus making the boyfriend, the roommate.  In addition to volunteering, I am trying to pick up a second job…hopefully reprising my role as a deli clerk at Publix.  There is a Publix about 5 miles from my house, which is really a blessing when it comes to job searching for something easy to get to and that I know I can do for at least two or three months before school starts back up in mid-August. 

In fitness, I paid for the unlimited pass to Yoga this month, and I am hoping that I actually get a chance to use it.  It is nice to know I can go whenever I want, but I am going to be bummed if I end up working so much that I basically flushed $100 down the drain…which is not good considering I only have about $150 to get me through this month (hence the need for a second job).  The moral of the story is it cost to keep sane while also working on a teaching certification.  Hopefully all will work out and I will be making enough to help out around the house with groceries and still have money for gas and fitness for the rest of the month.

Healthy eating has fallen off for a few weeks, but I am hoping that filling my time with things to do will basically force me back into a better eating routine.  I am maintaining weight right now, but I would rather be losing it. 

Later Days,

-Jenni.

05.27.2013 – RAD

Today I completed the Color Me Rad 5k in Tampa, Florida.  Not only does this mark my first 5k of the year; it also marks my first 5k of the summer.  With all these races coming up, it;s time to get serious about my commitment to fitness.  When I say commitment, I don’t mean shoving myself in the living room to do a workout DVD that I dread doing.  I mean committing to do something active every day…something that I love.

Starting next week I will be able to go to yoga at least three times a week.  I skipped last week due to a cookout with some friends, so I will be able to use my last two trips this week on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Then, I am paying for the 30-Day pass on Friday once I get paid.  I think that yoga will give me a new appreciation for my body due to the fact that I am more able than I seem.  I need to get back to running hills, but my therapy appointments have taken my inertia away once I’m done talking about everything I have dealt with in a week.  I need to push myself to run right after my appointment and meet up with them once they start, or just find someplace that will give me energy during the hour of waiting for running club to start.

I just want to get back to the way I was.  I know I write a post complaining about the person I used to be at least once a week these days and the only one to blame for that is myself, I just wish I could find the strength to look past the trials and just say “fuck it” and reach my goals.  Part of me doesn’t even want to do it anymore.  I keep wanting to fast forward to the part of my life where it all makes sense, but I’m starting to doubt if that part ever comes.

Later Days,

-Jenni.

05.22.2013 – Nine Days

Nine more days of school!  Yay!!

I am definitely ready to get my two-month break started.  It’s not REALLY a break because I will be volunteering the majority of the summer for a summer Preschool program, but it still will be a break from my actual job and an exploration into what I really want to do with my life.  I am still waiting on my Professional Education Test results, so I am just waiting for that.  I am less and less nervous about it, so I am okay with not knowing my results just yet.  I am hoping that the results come before my PreK test so that I can have a full answer by the time I take that test on whether I can start majorly searching for jobs or not.

In terms of workouts, I am learning to accept my ability to do any form of activity.  Yesterday, I had a run planned, but I ended up doing soccer drills ith Luke for the afternoon because I was on his side of town instead of mine.  I enjoyed myself, and I got in a decent workout.  Today I have soccer planned and my yoga class.  It’s hard to get me to not go to yoga.  I cannot wait until I can spring for the unlimited pass next month.

Hope you all are having a great week!  I’ll update more on food choices later.  It’s a learning process and I am definitely adding more fruits and veggies.  It’s just difficult to go about it without weighing myself every day and counting calories like it’s going out of style.

Later Days,

-Jenni.

05.20.2013 – Healthy Tipping Point

Wow, it’s been awhile!

The end of school is fast approaching, and no one is more ready for summer than I am.  I have got my summer workout plan figured out and I am ready to throw it into action.  It’s full of yoga and a lot of running/soccer practice.  I have June planned out, an I am excited to be opting for the unlimited yoga pass for the entire month.  I will be able to focus on my practice and have myself centered for summer.  Throwing cardio in the mix will help improve my cardio and be the action that really burns the extra calories I am trying to lose.  I am trying to focus on adding rather than subtracting, something that I am learning about as I am reading Healthy Tipping Point, the book written by one of my favorite bloggers, Caitlyn Boyle. 

The main idea I am focusing on this summer is not restrictiong food, but adding physical activity.  As I add physical activity, I know that I will be craving better food.  While I am not restricting myself from a piece of chocolate if that is what I desire, I am hoping that the increase in activity will cause me to increase my intake of healthier options like fruits and vegetables.  I am also hoping to continue my vegetarian diet, which has blackslid a bit the past several weeks.  I am trying not to focus on calorie-couting, as I have done in the past.  This time around I am trying to add in nutritious food, at a reasonable portion size, that will keep me feeling nutured and healthy. 

It definitely a journey, and I am glad to be start it (again!).  I am ready to take back my life and find my healthy, and happy, place in the world.

Later Days,

-Jenni.

05.14.2013 – Part Two, Again

As a start to my new healthy-living mantra, I am implementing a rule.  A rule which I have stolen from my friend Julie, who stole the rul from a movie (Parental Guidance…I think). 

For every downer, I own myself three uppers.  Three compliments about myself or things that I am thankful for in my life.

This means that every time I put myself down, I have to come up with three things that will lift me back up.  And after yesterday’s post, I owe myself quite a few uppers…specifically thirty.  I owe myself thirty “uppers”.  So, here we go…

1. I am smart.  I am currently teaching myself through study guides so that I can get my teaching certification.

2. I can cook a perfect pancake.  It has taken a lot of tries, but it’s perfection.

3. My hair color is awesome.  Just, awesome.

4. I am a great educator.  This is validated.  I get told at least weekly that I am wonderful with the kids that I work with.

5. I have the ability to run.  I may be slow and it may not be far, but I have the ability to run.

6. I am witty.

7. I have a family that does everything in its power to provide happiness for me.

8. I am able-bodied enough to do yoga, on a daily basis if I want, and I am more relaxed because of this.

9. I can grow my own herbs (hopefully!). 

10. I have friends that are supportive, even when they are not sure what’s going on with me.

11. I live less than three hours away from both Florida coasts… I’m surrounded by beach.

12. I get to go to SeaWorld for FREE on Friday.

13. One of my students told me I was skinny.  In a middle school environment, that means everything. 

14. I am trusted enough that people come to me for advice.

15. I understand nutrition enough that people come to me for advice.

16. I am making daily decisions that are creating a healthier life for me.

17. I can bake/cook healthy and not-so-healthy treats.

18. I have stuck to my 85% vegetarian goal for almost a month.

19.  I am feeling more and more committed to yoga every day.

20. I came to work today instead of faking sick and sleeping all day.

21. I overcame my emotions yesterday without the use of self-injury or horror movies.

22. I will complete the first concept of study for my PreK test today before the end of school.

23. My nephew can make me laugh, even on my worst days.

24. I got four races for the price of one this summer.  Through this, I can improve on my 5k time throughout the summer.

25. I found a mud race that I can do for free through volunteering.

26. I can sing…well.

27. The Fast ForWord lady was impressed with how involved I am in the program, and offered to be a reference when I start looking for a teaching job.

28. I have stuck to my goal of not chewing gum… this is a HUGE accomplishment, since I used to rely on gum to curb cravings.

29. I can read music, something I consider to be a lost art.

30. School is out in 23 Days, and I’m only working 16 of those days.

 

Later Days,

-Jenni.

05.14.2013 – Things to Look Forward To

1. I’m reading Healthy Tipping Point.  I am hoping this book will teach me how to love myself and how to work on lifestyle changes rather than “quick fixes”.

2. I signed up for an organic buying club.  It’s a lot of healthy food for $25 a week.  That’s a pretty decent price for someone who is always trying to save an extra dime or two.

3. Next month I’m going for the unlimited yoga pass.  I love running, and I’m going to keep it up, but I think that yogas is going to be a better use of time when it comes to learning to love myself and respect my body.

Later Days,

-Jenni Warren