Workout Buddy Needed

Hashtag Pain is My Fuel

2015-01-24T16:51:00.002-05:00

Welcome to my first post of 2015. I know I've been a bad blogger. I haven't been posting as often as I said I would, or even as often as I've wanted.

Life is complicated, and seems to be getting even more so everyday. So...I'm not going to make anymore promises about future posts...

You'll take them when I give them AND LIKE IT!!!

If you've been following me on Twitter, you've seen 2 things:

I'm tweeting more and
I've started using a new hashtag: #Painismyfuel

Which totally relates to my life in the last week.

Honestly, I've been consumed with misery...and the only reason I'm being this honest is because I have huge doubts that any of the people who actually know me will actually be reading this, or that they'll even care.

So, here it is. Shit is happening in my lack-of-love life, family life, friendships and financially. I don't know who I can really talk to about it...couldn't even type it all out here, and I'm less than a year away from being 30...

But you know what I did this week? Dropped 11 pounds. And not because I just didn't have an appetite. I've been really angry for the last few hours, wanted to stuff my face, and I still haven't spoiled my calorie count for the day.

Something about all the pain, and crying, and stomach-churning stress that I've let people put me through made me realize...

I'm just better, and therefore deserve better!!!

I'm not going to purposefully waste time making other people's lives a living hell.

I'm not going to lead you on. If I don't want you, you'll know it.

I'm not gonna judge you based on your job and financial situation.

I'm above all of that crap, and I should be treating myself better. Better food, better health. So, while I work my way through the pain, I'm going to better my health and make ALL this pain my fuel to being in better health.

What pain fuels you?

And I'll end this very angry post with:

Just f$^k em!

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

My Advice To My Online Community

2014-10-07T09:45:00.001-04:00

I'm a bad blogger...I'm sorry :(

BUT I have a few minutes, and I'm INSPIRED to begin anew! So...here we go.

Today I logged into my MyFitnessPal account and tracked my breakfast. I haven't done this in...it's been a while.

SHUT UP!

Anywho, with this super moon eclipse just around the corner, there has been this energy in the air that has just been pushing me to do SOMETHING, and I had a question from a friend on my account that I felt needed a good answer. The exact question asked by ealeal99 (username...duh) was, "Are you still using this? I use it off and on but really going to try to stick with it." My inspired response shocked even me, because I'm usually so scientific about the actual science of weight loss, and this response seemed to be such a mix of emotion and science. I think I may have analyzed myself to a point of change, so I thought I'd share my response:

"Sorry it took me so long to get back to you! Obviously, I have issues using this site/app consistently. BUT, when I do use it for weeks at a time, I get great results. The issue is dealing with the psychological issues surrounding health in order to do things consistently and make permanent changes for lasting results. Here's where I am right now. Step 1: Make a routine out of my meals. This makes them easy to track, easy to buy/budget, easy to analyze how your body reacts, easy to plan ahead, easy to know what to pack for when, and so on. It also makes you start thinking of your food in terms of fuel and not treats. And if you can throw in some extra veggies each day, GO FOR IT! I am literally starting over today, and today is a good day to begin anew, don't you think?"

That's about it! I hope you all have an inspired day as well. And today I CHALLENGE you to start something you want to finish with your whole heart!

And...GO!!!

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

My Body Hurts...OWIE OWIE OWIE!!!

2014-08-18T09:12:00.000-04:00

And today makes THREE!!! Three posts in a row…I’ll try to make the day these come out more consistent, but until then…

They’ll come out when I say they’ll come out :p

It was a pretty good week, but a rough weekend.

This week, I added exercise back in to my routine and lowered my calorie consumption to my goal-weight RMR…

It did not go exactly as planned.

I probably made too many changes at once and didn’t consider how much sleep I should be getting (hint: 5 hours is not enough).

However, despite the current exhaustion I’m experiencing, I was able to stick to my workout plan all week for 5 days straight. One hour a day, plus ½ hour of yoga, full hour of yoga once on the weekend. The hour of exercise varied from my usual spinning classes and biking outdoors to Jillian Michaels and Just Dance routines. I even added in an hour long muscle sculpting class (that kicked my shrinking ass).

The weekend threw me a bit. I knew I was having family coming over. I knew we were having a BBQ. I knew there would be booze, and I knew I would have to clean house…

Then, my exhaustion really set in on Saturday. After being on my feet for days straight getting my house ready for guests, pushing around a heavy vacuum, I also ended up staying on my feet all day helping my dad prepare the BBQ. I’ve never enjoyed sitting so much!

So, Sunday…I crashed. SURPRISE!!!

I woke up super late and also overate. On the bright side, I didn’t resort to my usual unhealthy, smothered in grease-like treats. Just some sugary goods with peanut butter.

Everybody gets to crash, and I still dropped a few ounces, so, I’m ready to get back to it!

At about an hour and a half of working out daily, according to Pete Thomas’s book (see previous posts), I should be dropping 2-3 pounds per week. This should help me hit my goal in time. Stay posted!!!

That’s about it for now. I did want to share my motivational board with you that’s hanging on a wall in my house:

And most of those photos of me are only 20 pounds ago...
and obviously, the "Game of Thrones" photo is a costume idea lol.

It’s filled with my personal affirmations, outfits I want to wear at goal weight, and my favorite photos of me; any photo that basically makes me feel sexy lol. I think I’ll post it on my social media accounts as well. Feel free to follow me (links under the “Contacts” tab), and share your motivational board and tips with me!

And as always, hang in there!!!

Your Workout Buddy:

Roxy

Let's Get Scientific, SHALL WE?

2014-08-10T13:28:00.001-04:00

Holy crap…two blogs, two weeks in a row!!! Not possible. NOT POSSIBLE!!!

OH BUT IT IS!

Happy Sunday workout buddies! It’s been quite a week. My goal for this last week was just to eat to maintain my weight. I’ve been counting calories (and calorie cycling, which I’ll explain a little bit more about in a minute) to stick around my current weight’s RMR (definition here: http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_BMR.php).

With my spinning instructor out of town all week, I even took most of this week off from hard exercise. Just the dog walking, and one Jillian Michaels workout at the end of the week because my sleep schedule is still not where I want it, and I’m testing my energy levels.

With all that said…I dropped over 6 POUNDS…since Tuesday (the actual day I started calorie counting)…that’s 6 pounds in 5 days!

So starting tomorrow, I will be eating my goal weight RMR (which is 1,462 calories), and developing my workout schedule. I cannot wait until my weigh-in next week!!!

Now to get scientific on ya’ll. Let's discuss one of several innovative ideas I’ve received by reading Pete Thomas’s book “Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever”.

Calorie cycling…basically you take your RMR, and throughout the week you either subtract 10 or 15%, or you add 10 or 15%.

Start off Day 1 subtracting 10%, Day 2 adding 10%, Day 3 subtracting 15%, Day 4 adding 10%, Day 5 subtracting 10%, Day 6 eating at your RMR, and Day 7 adding 15%.

What this accomplishes:

It prevents your body from getting accustomed to having a certain amount of calories daily, which helps to stave off plateau; pretty much the same idea behind muscle confusion, but in terms of nutrition.
It allows you to eat more calories on certain days, so you won’t feel like you’re depriving yourself all week (which I can attest to just from this week).
It makes you think ahead a week calorie-wise, so you can plan out meals and events, and by the end of the week, you are still consuming your RMR on average every week.

I’ve heard A LOT about calorie counting (pretty much my entire life), but I’ve never heard of it being taken to this level. So far so good on my end!

I promise to get a little more fun and psychological with you next week, but for this week, YOUR CHALLENGE is to try this out! Get a calorie counter (my personal favorite is the My Fitness Pal app and website, and you can find me there @RainmakerRoxy), calculate your RMR for both your current weight and goal weight (Pete Thomas’s website has a great calculator: http://petethomas.com/calculators/), and see what results you can come up with!

And if you’re following this blog, find me on Twitter, Vine, Facebook and Instagram (see contact page for links). I would LOVE to follow you back ;)

Your Workout Buddy:

Roxy

Calorie cycling…basically you take your RMR, and throughout the week you either subtract 10 or 15%, or you add 10 or 15%.

Start off Day 1 subtracting 10%, Day 2 adding 10%, Day 3 subtracting 15%, Day 4 adding 10%, Day 5 subtracting 10%, Day 6 eating at your RMR, and Day 7 adding 15%.

What this accomplishes:

It prevents your body from getting accustomed to having a certain amount of calories daily, which helps to stave off plateau; pretty much the same idea behind muscle confusion, but in terms of nutrition.
It allows you to eat more calories on certain days, so you won’t feel like you’re depriving yourself all week (which I can attest to just from this week).
It makes you think ahead a week calorie-wise, so you can plan out meals and events, and by the end of the week, you are still consuming your RMR on average every week.

I’ve heard A LOT about calorie counting (pretty much my entire life), but I’ve never heard of it being taken to this level. So far so good on my end!

And if you’re following this blog, find me on Twitter, Vine, Facebook and Instagram (see contact page for links). I would LOVE to follow you back ;)

Your Workout Buddy:

Roxy

Road to Thirty!!!

2014-08-02T15:05:00.001-04:00

Oh, my patient followers…all two of you…

I have returned! After months of trying to figure myself out, I am ready to travel forward on my journey to becoming healthy.

After such a long absence, some of you might ask my why this blog is so important to me. Honestly, the first thing I had in mind when I started this blog was to use it as an accountability tool. The more I write, the more I reveal, the more I have to stick with my plans because it would be embarrassing to not show any progress post to post, right?

Well, several months in between posts and countless weight fluctuations later, I’m back at 235.2 pounds, quitting the Isagenix program I started in the previous post, not exactly swimming in cash (as if I ever was), and starting over anew.

Photo of My So-Called Progress

The difference between now and then? I have just a little over a year before I’m Dirty Thirty, and I have a new tool in my fight against obesity: Pete Thomas’s book “Lose It Fast, Lose it Forever”.

A MUCH Happier Photo

For those of you that don’t remember who Pete Thomas is, he is the 2^nd season at-home winner of “The Biggest Loser”. He dropped about 185lbs and has kept it off for OVER SEVEN YEARS!!! In terms of health, he is the show’s biggest success story. Pete is a man that I want on my team.

Which leads me to my new reason for keeping this blog alive. I’m building my team! All ya'll (sorry for the "ya'll")!!!

At the end of the first step in Pete book, which is about discovering “Your Power”, he advises readers to build a team of people that can help hold you accountable; people you know support you and your goals.

SO WELCOME TO MY TEAM!!!

It’s time this blog is used the way it was originally intended. I’ve already set up my S.M.A.R.T. goals (you can learn more about what that means in Pete’s book), and I’d like to share them with you now:

I want to lose 40 pounds in 70 days (October 5^th when I set the goal, just in time to buy a new Halloween costume).
I want to lose a total of 80 pounds in 216 days (7 months, March 1^st, when I set the goal)

This averages out to about 2.66 pounds per week and 10.64 pounds per month

With these goals in place and met, I will start off my 30s in the best of health and be ready to kiss my 20s BUH-BYE!

SO TEAM! Your turn. What are your goals? Maybe you don’t like to go by weight specifically. What about physical challenges you want to take on? Doing a pull-up? Running a 5K?

Go on…GET IT OUT THERE!!! GO TEAM, GO!!!

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

Getting Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Life

2014-01-02T21:45:00.000-05:00

It’s hard to avoid a good workout in Cleveland…

during the winter…

when the storms come.

PERSONAL LOG OF RAINMAKER ROXY

Day 1 of 2014 – Woke up, shoveled snow, ate, slept

Day 2 of 2014 – Woke up, ate, slept, shoveled snow

Day 3 of 2014 - …hasn’t happened as of yet, but maybe I should just fill in the blanks?

Ok, a lot of other things happened too, but the shoveling.

Who can forget all the shoveling!!!???

I mean, I love seeing my dad’s face when he comes home from work and sees that he doesn’t have to do anything to our driveway and walkway, but we need to get a damn snow blower (if my brothers ever read this, make a note for next Christmas, his birthday or Father’s Day, PLEASE???).

But, as I said before, I have gotten some things done AND I’ve stuck to my diet (two days straight, hooray!!!)

Now is the time to get organized, before I officially get a new job, before I get too deep in my Isagenix journey and stop being that slug that shovels snow and then sits and watches TV for the rest of the day. MAYBE gets out of the house to eat something full of heavy calories.

So, I bring to you, my basic schedule of activities. And I say basic because I want to be able to have a life. However, having a basic checklist of the things I want to accomplish daily and weekly, and the best times of the day to fit them in, will help me stick to my goals.

RAINMAKER ROXY’S ACTIVITY SCHEDULE (BETA)

Activity	Daily	Weekly	Morning	Afternoon

Spinning Class		* - Two Days	*
Spreaker Podcast		* - Two Days	*
Meditation	*		*
Brain Training Games	*		*
Spanish Lessons	*		*
Spiritual Lessons		* - Two Days	*
Music Theory Lessons		* - Two Days	*
Elliptical (30 Minutes)	* - 5 Days		*
Workout of the Month	* - 4-5 Days		*
Guitar Lessons	*			*
WoBN Blog Post		*		*
WoBN Video		*		*
Yoga	*			*
Piano Lessons		* - Two Days		*
Vine Character Story		*		*

And now, here’s your BUDDY TOPIC OF THE WEEK. How do you stay organized? Share your tips and tricks for keeping yourself on track with all of your goals and ambitions. And don’t forget! You can still share what you feel makes you sexy using #sexypartsWoBud on Twitter. Find me @RainmakerRoxy.

Until next week!

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

Everyone Is Sexy...They Just Don't Know It.

2013-12-26T23:17:00.001-05:00

I taught myself a lesson today.

Currently, I'm sweaty, tired, nauseous and I have a really bad taste in my mouth.

Let me start from the beginning of my story at about 1pm today when my dad called me at home to tell me he was coming home from work early and needed me to drive him to the ER...

Don't worry! He's OK...kinda. He has muscle strain due to having a really physical job. The docs have him taking muscle relaxers and prescription NSAIDS, & now he's falling asleep on a heating pad (poor guy, what a way to end what was a terrible year).

Back to my story!

So, I'm in the ER for a few hours, no water (though I should have asked for a cup) & no snacks. Then, after leaving, there was still another hour of picking up the prescriptions...

Le sigh...

So, what I should have done...was go straight home.

What I did do...was go to the Taco Bell drive through, and when I finished eating that, I ate a crazy amount of Dove Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolate.

So, I bring this story up, not just because it's very current to my life, but because it ruined what my original post was going to be about...SEXINESS!!!

Because for the last couple of days, up until today's binge eating moment, I've been feeling pretty sexy. Maybe it's the new workout clothes? If you've seen my Instagram and Twitter, you know that I invested in the new Standout and Incredible Sports Bras from Victoria's Secret. And now, I've also invested in a couple of their Supermodel Bootcut workout pants. All get 5 out of 5 stars from me!

I don't know how, but I am able to squeeze all my ass and hips into their large size (I had been wearing XL previously). I wore these pants to a Zumba class on Christmas morning, and found myself checking out my own derrière in the studio mirrors. It made shaking it even more fun.

These are also the pants I wore to the ER because I was supposed to be starting my workout when my dad called. And when I saw my reflection in the ICU room doors, I stopped, stared and smiled for a moment.

Now, I may have spent so much of a good chunk of time on the couch and at a desk job that my ass is not what you'd call small...

But(t) I know it is my greatest ass-et.

See what I did there?

Guys have mentioned it, I don't mind seeing it sans clothing. Maybe it's all the yoga squats, gym squats & now years of spinning classes that have helped it defy gravity just enough to still be sexy.

I'll admit it. I'm all about my ass!

So, after having all these great sexy feelings, instead of embracing it and using it to my advantage, I get thrown off track and turn to food...After dropping 7 pounds!

Dammit!

So, I decided to punish myself with a good ole fashion sweat session!

I gave myself a couple of hours to digest, but then I broke out the "Just Dance" and "Ripped in 30". I had plenty of moments where I thought I was gonna have to run to the bathroom and have a Biggest Loser 1st workout moment. Very sexy indeed!

So, that awful taste in my mouth? Taco Bell trying to settle AAANNDD...regret.

I may not have burned off all the calories I consumed, but I'm definitely not missing the drive-thru right now.

And by the end of this typing, I no longer feel gross, have showered off the sweat and am ready for beddy-by, so let me get back to the original point.

Sex, sexiness, and our sexual nature is needed. I'm not saying be a ho and sleep around, but dress sexy (not slutty), act sexy, and you can build your self esteem and eventually believe in your sexual nature. I think embracing this side of me will help me make healthier choices.

I'd rather feel sexy than gross.

So, here is your BUDDY TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Your Sexy Parts! Obviously, my booty is mine. I don't know if I could have typed anymore about it. And a year or so ago, I wrote about how I could see my collarbone, and how that made me feel sexy. So, what part of you makes you sexy? Body parts, attitudes, style, expressions, laughs, what you notice, what other people notice; LET'S BUILD SELF ESTEEM NOW!!!

Feel free to post in the comments below or on Twitter using the hashtag #sexypartsWoBud. Have fun with it! Creative photos/Videos (please god, no nudity) are welcome.

Alright, workout buds, until next year...

Your Workout Buddy,
Roxy

Reward Yourself...CORRECTLY!

2013-12-20T23:43:00.001-05:00

Food is not love…ooommm…

Food is not comfort…ooommm…

Food is not joy…ooommm…

Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there! I was just in the middle of my meditation. Every day in every way…I need to keep reminding myself that food is just nourishment; nothing more, nothing less.

Let me tell you a secret. You’ll have to get close to the screen for this one…

I’M AN EMOTIONAL EATER!!!!

Did I scare you? I’m sorry…mwahaha.

I’m certain I didn’t at least shock you. Most overweight/obese people aren’t eating because they are unusually hungry (though it’s possible, and you might have a tapeworm or a disease, so go see a doctor, would you? But not until after you finish reading this post, K?), and the more I focus on clean eating through my Isagenix program, the more I recognize that I’m eating passed the hungry on days I slip up.

I know that I’m eating to fill a void(s) in my life. Food isn’t a punishment. I enjoy food because it is a treat to me. I reward myself for getting through a bad day, or for holding back saying something so that I maintain a status quo that may not even work for me anymore (the latter being related to my former job most of all). I treat myself to ice cream, Starbucks, greasy burgers and Taco Bell (not all of these at the same time…usually) because I’m trying to fill a hole in my life where a boyfriend and/or a better career might fit better.

And unfortunately, this kind of eating gives instant gratification that doesn’t last very long, especially if you eat until you bloat.

I’m like the crazy cat lady of fast food, constantly collecting and filling my home (or in this case, my belly) with junk food…and if you’ve seen my Vines and photos, you already know that I also have 4 crazy cats (thanks Mom and Dad). So, I’m doubly trying to fill that void.

So, since it’s unhealthy to eat ourselves to 400+ pounds, hoard animals, and have constant one-night stands (though I’m sure that last one is much more fun, and barring STDs/STIs, a nice, healthy workout), what can we do to prevent ourselves from emotional eating?

To me, the answer is two-fold.

The first part is inspired by Jillian Michaels and her podcast. If you haven’t listened to any of her episodes, I highly recommend it. I like to listen to them in my car, while doing dishes and laundry, working out, or any other time where using my ears is better than watching TV.

Jillian says that in order to control her food intake, she has made her eating habits as routine as possible. Most days, she knows what she'll be eating ahead of time and when. If you have a plan, it’s harder to make the decision to break away from it. It also makes you look at food as nourishment instead of as a treat to have whenever and wherever.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean making food boring. Never be afraid to use spices, especially hot peppery stuff that’s good for your metabolism. But establishing a basic routine for what you eat in a day can make it easy to track your calories, and eventually, the more you do it, the less you’ll have to write down because it will be in your head.

This simplicity is why I like my Isagenix plan. It’s a basic routine, and I only have to worry about a minimum amount of calorie counting. For example, I have a delicious shake or bar for breakfast and at dinner, a snack around 200 calories mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and lunch is a full meal between 400-600 calories.

To prevent me from going overboard, I give myself just a few choices. I switch between either boneless chicken breast, eggs or fish (sometimes eggs and fish to fill in calories), some sort of carb (either brown rice or whole grain wheat toast) with a serving of Smart Balance low sodium butter, and a side of Steam Fresh veggies (my favorites are the Brussels sprouts and the garlic cauliflower). I’ll also mix in my veggie of choice, baby spinach, while cooking the main protein dish. And maybe a piece of Babybel if there is calorie room.

There are also supplements to take, and I like to add non-caffeinated tea to the end of my day. And ALWAYS drink plenty of water water water!

So, part one deals with how we view food, but what about that void? Whatever it is that we can’t fill, or aren’t ready to fill yet?

Well, this is where part two comes in, and it is inspired by me, me, selfish little old me!

I have a pretty good idea what is missing from my life that makes me eat so much, and it’s not something I can just go buy in a store…so while I’m not spending money on eating out all the time, I think I’m going to save this $$$ and put it toward treats that help me fulfill other goals and get the other things I want out of life that are currently more in reach.

Feel free to peruse my personal goal/reward list/timeline:

Which leads me to your BUDDY TOPIC OF THE WEEK. How can you, or do you, reward yourself for good health behavior? Feel free to leave your treat ideas in the comments [I’m always looking for new suggestions for myself ;) ].

OK workout buds, I’ll see you next week!

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

Look over there. It’s…A DISTRACTION!!!

2013-12-12T23:41:00.000-05:00

It’s Thursday night, and I’ve had quite a day. Quite a week, actually. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’ve made some updates to this site as well as my YouTube, Facebook and Google+ Pages…I do have a MySpace page, but I haven’t decided if it’s worth saving.

More updates still to come…

As for today, I woke up not at 6am as planned, but still two hours earlier than everyday (outside of spinning class Monday) this week. I FINALLY submitted my application to the new healthcare marketplace, and now I play the waiting game. I also spent the morning re-learning the basics of Spanish (actually more like refreshing my memory of Spanish 1…I’ll be re-learning what didn’t stick from Spanish 2 later) using my new favorite app Duolingo.

I had a bad-eating day Wednesday, meaning I ate to the point where I was sick, even though my body was sending me signals to stop eating, and I had trouble sleeping throughout part of the night. So, I promised myself today would be a day to start over and be good, and all signs were pointing to this day being what I wanted it to be. And then…

Shadow had a nail in his face.

Not a tool-type nail mind you, but a nail from one of my other cats had detached from THAT cat (sometime in the 15 minutes I had left them alone to use the bathroom and change into workout clothes) and lodged itself into the bridge of the nose of my Shadow.

So, of course, I freaked the f&#k out.

Don’t worry. He’s doing fine.

Just look at that face <3 p="">

He removed the entire nail on his own during the car ride to the vet. I just had them check to make sure nothing was left in (blek!), picked up some flea prevention meds, and was on my way.

And on my way, I passed a Taco Bell, a BRAND NEW Duncan Donuts, a Burger King and several other restaurants that I was highly tempted to pay a visit despite my huge mistake the previous night.

This cat vs. cat nail incident is what I call a “Bad Distraction”, or a “Trigger Distraction”. These distractions throw you off your plans and have an emotional effect on you. If you don’t check in with yourself when these distractions occur, you can completely abandon your weight-loss goals.

Now, not all of these distraction scenarios are bad in their natural state…but for people like us, they just have the potential to lead to bad decisions.

Take, for instance, this real-life scenario: I recently won tickets to see The Dan Band, a somewhat famous comedic band. Performing with them in the background was a drummer and a guitarist…a really REALLY hot guitarist, who (since the lighting was not that dim and everybody could see everybody) I thought (hoped) was making eyes with me for part of the night.

Since he was on stage and I was not, of course nothing happened (though I had several nights fantasizing being called backstage after the show and then…oh wait, this isn’t Literotica.com…moving on). Other than that, this was a really great night. Yet still, I went home and ate a late-night sandwich to quell my “I didn’t have sex” emotional state.

Good night, trigger distraction.

If you’re like me, you have a problem with willing yourself to make the right choices in these scenarios. So, other than practicing just saying no (even though cold turkey works so well 100% of the time for everything *sarcasm*), what can you do?

Well, what I’m starting to do is:

FIND GOOD DISTRACTIONS!

Let’s call these…"On-Path Distractions" because they will help keep you on your path to your fitness goals (just pulling that phrase out of my ass as I type).

My “On-Path Distractions” take my mind away from my desire to eat everything in sight and shift my focus to other goals. Here’s a list of what I have in my arsenal so far:

Spanish lessons (well duh if you’ve read the beginning of this post)
Guitar Lessons (for you Mac lovers, GarageBand offers free downloadable lessons…I’m also taking the piano lessons)
Music Theory Lessons (cause I really want to create my own music)
“Learning Express Library” of the State of Ohio (a great website that offers free software lessons, some which may help me obtain a new career, and enhance the skills I learned in college)
Endless amounts of cleaning (death, taxes, laundry, and dishes are the only things certain in life)

And of course, exercise is the best distraction of all.

So here’s your BUDDY TOPIC OF THE WEEK. What are your distractions that keep you from falling off track? What distractions have you reaching for a bowl of ice cream at 1am? Talk about them in the comments!

OK workout buds, I’ll see you next week!

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

An Era of Real Change

2013-12-05T22:46:00.001-05:00

Readers?

Is that you?

I barely recognized you (all 2.5 of you)!

After months of blogging silence, I’M BACK BABY!!!

If you’ve been paying attention to any of my Tweets, Vine vids, or listening to my new “Pre-Ass Crack of Dawn” podcasts on Spreaker (CHECK‘EM OUT!!!), then you know I’ve had a rough year: My mom passed away after many years of battling the worst case of cancer I’ve ever heard of, things got crazy at work, then I lost my job…and of course there are the animals I live with driving me nuts (cats, dog…and Dad included lol).

But through all of that, this has been an eye opening time for me. I discovered just how much the job I was in was holding me back. I realized just how far off the path I was that I wanted to be on, and now is the time to get back on it.

So, this is me getting back on track, and I plan to bring YOU in on all the fun!

Basically, I’m treating this time in my life like a bad breakup. You can either A.) Wallow in sorrow, get fat(ter) and be miserable or B.) Get hot and make your previous life jealous…I choose the latter.

As I figure out how my life is going to go from here on out, expect to see some changes. For starters:

Every Thursday will be a new blog post (To get you in the mood to live healthy for the weekend)
Every Monday will be a YouTube video (To start your week off right with a healthy attitude)
This site, as well as all of my social media sites will be redesigned (Let’s make it pretty)
I’m adding new sections to fill you in on my exercise and nutrition routine in case you want to follow it too, my goals, and maybe even sections where I reach out to you (All 2.5 of you...but seriously, I’d LOVE to feature your success stories, advice, blogs and websites, so feel free to EMAIL ME!)

Oh, I can go on with all my ideas, but I think I’ll stop there, and save stuff for the next post. Check out my Contact/Follow Me Page to see all of the ways you can now keep in touch with me and Workout Buddy Needed.

Let’s inspire each other!

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

WHEN FORTUNE COOKIES ATTACK!!!

2013-06-09T17:01:00.002-04:00

In my many years of eating, I have learned that the food we eat usually has a message for us…

8 times out of 10, the message for me has been, “You ate too much.”

Then all of a sudden, my food started to get organized in how they display their messages.

Nope, not with constant indigestion.

Not by slipping me into food comas every single meal.

Also, not a clothing size thing…

In fact, these messages have been coming to me in the form of my fortune cookies!

Yes, I admit I have made the sin of ordering Chinese delivery instead of cooking my own food (or even walking to the restaurant and picking it up myself). But apparently, my fortune cookies have been conspiring behind my back and have come to the agreement that they need to be more obvious when making their point.

It started slowly with this message from over a year ago:

But then the last couple of fortune cookies:

And then:

So, I throw my hands up. OK COOKIES, YOU WIN!!!

I’m doing what I can to pick up the activity level, whether it’s walking at lunch with my co-worker buddies, making myself run after work, never skipping a spinning class (barring horrible, HORRIBLE Ohio weather), or adding hot yoga to my schedule.

As for my diet, I have immensely messed up my motivation over the last year, and need to put myself in check. So, with the guidance of my Bikram Yoga instructor, I am starting a new diet/cleansing system called Isagenix. Yes, it’s probably more money than I should be spending, but I 100% feel that this is the way I can overcome my addictions to eating out and eating junk.

If you’d like to know more about it, CLICK HERE!

To keep this from being a waste of money, and another program I start and then fail a couple of weeks later, I’ve put into place the following preventative measures:

Leaving all credit/debit cards at home to prevent cave-ins to Taco Bell cravings
Signing up for the IsaBody Challenge, which requires I check in during certain periods of the month, AND can be rewarding (if you want more information on this part of the Isagenix Program and how you can be rewarded for transforming your body…without the help of NBC or ABC...CLICK HERE!!!)
AND as a bonus treat, I am posting daily videos of my journey on Vine. YES, I’M ON VINE, AND I’M ALREADY ADDICTED!!! See my first video below, find my profile and friend me please!

Oh fortune cookies, while I may not be eating you for quite a while, I thank you for helping me see the light. Wish me luck!

Your Buddy,

Roxy

Why I Can No Longer Go to Taco Bell

2013-05-19T21:19:00.000-04:00

Consider this a break-up letter.

Dear Taco Bell Drive-Thru Lady,

You have always been very courteous to me. You take my order with 0 mistakes. You always have a smile on your face when you take my debit card and hand me my meal…you even seem to hold back judgment when I Live Más for over $10.00 and there’s no one in my car with which to share the bounty. You make it easy to just drive up and get a tasty, very filling (unhealthy) meal with nary a thought. That is, until I reach that regretful point of digestion…

And then, in your friendly way, you tell me how every time you see me, I look so nice. Course, that’s because I’m usually grabbing Taco Bell after a night of drinking my calories away at a bar where I’m dressed to pick up some hot guy (and always failing to do so).

Great compliment? OF COURSE…but when the part-time drive-thru person (who looks like she’s in high school) starts to recognize you, it’s a sign that you’ve eaten there far too many times.

So, farewell Taco Bell and Taco Bell Drive-Thru Lady. I’ve officially shamed myself into not patronizing your business anymore…

Or maybe I’ll just go to the Taco Bell the next town over? Nah, nah, I should just give it up.

Your Buddy,

Roxy

Mom, I love you. Always.

2013-02-28T07:53:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

I thought I might fill you in on why I haven't had time to work on my fasting videos/entries over the last week.

At around 7:14pm last night (2/27/13), one of the kindest, strongest women I ever knew passed away. My Mom.

After almost 10 years of fighting a rare form of Cancer, her battle was lost. She leaves behind her devoted husband of 40 years, her 4 children, 7 fantastic grandchildren, and a load of close family and friends all strong with the love she gave them.

We miss you Mom and wish you didn't have to be taken away so soon. All that comforts us now is that you are no longer suffering and in pain. Love you always.

Mom, I wish that you could be around for all of the big events in my life to come: the day I finally get a job I like (one that brings me above poverty level would be nice instead of my current one that keeps me there), finally bring "the one" home, the day I get married (maybe have kids), buy my first house (or more likely, rent an apartment, or move in with my man) and finally get to my goal weight.

Though I've lost people in my life before, my Mom is the first person I've ever really loved that's been taken from me. She is a huge motivating factor for me in most of the things I do, my best friend in dark times, and just a fun person to have around...also, she was a Rummy champion (shout out to my brother, David, who lost the first game they played this year).

I love you Mom. You will always be these things and more to me and the rest of your family and friends. I know you are having fun in the afterlife with Grandma, Helen (my sister-in-law), your brother Paul, her dog Scruffy, Elvis and Lucy (her favorites). Take care, and know that we will do the same.

Love,

Your Favorite (only) Daughter

You Need an Example? Well, I’ll give you one!

2013-02-11T22:39:00.001-05:00

It’s February 11^th as I type today’s entry. I have less than two month till my bestest-best friend in the whole ENTIRE world, or Bestie if you will, gets married to the love of his life…

This also means that I have less than two months to look FABULOUS in my bridesmaid dress. Ok, more like about half a month before I have my first scheduled fitting for the dress I want to look fabulous in.


This is the dress, but in purple...I look hot in purple, no lie, no lie!		!

The past year + has been a mess. My Mom’s health has been failing (which I plan on writing more about at a later date), I’ve been a neglectful blogger [SORRY :( ], I had to have surgery on a torn meniscus in my knee, and I’ve struggled with continuously dropping 10 pounds and gaining it back a couple of weeks later. Right now, I’m holding strong at 242-ish pounds.

Not the heaviest I’ve been, but far from where I was two years ago.

Me in my workout gear. Not bad...but still needs work.

A non-workout pic. I know...look at them boobies :)

Over the last couple of months, I watched (and re-watched) two amazing documentaries: “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” and “Hungry for Change”

And I couldn’t help but think, “Does that really work? Does juicing and fasting really completely reboot your system?”

Well, starting February 16^th, 2013, I’M GOING TO FIND OUT!!!

I’ve invested in a great Breville juicer, been practicing my juicing skills, and downloaded the 15 day fasting schedule from RebootWithJoe.com. This Friday is my shopping day (and PAYDAY HOLLA!!!).

To give you an idea of how my juicing journey is going, I will be providing you with DAILY (D.A.I.L.Y) video sessions on my YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/RainmakerRoxy

Feel free to check out my old vlogs while you’re there.

My goal in all of this is not just to look good, but to feel healthy, BE healthy, and be the person I always knew I could be.

Life begins NOW!!!

Your Buddy,

Roxy

PS. Your assignment for this week is to follow Joe Cross from "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" on Twitter @JoeTheJuicer. He's kind of amazing!

Two Beers Deep, 3 Hours Sleep, and Things I Learned on Black Friday – A Rant

2012-11-23T23:18:00.003-05:00

Really has nothing to do with fitness, but if it makes you feel any better, I only got 3 hours of sleep cause I woke up early for spinning class...Anywho...

Here’s what I learned today, this Black Friday:

1. If you move at a pace that makes a snail say, “get out of the way,” you should not be participating in Black Friday IN PERSON. Please, stay home and make your computer your shopping buddy. Also, consider Cyber Monday a perfectly fine alternative. Next year, elbows will be thrown.

2. I should have taken the bus to the mall(s)…people suck at driving (maybe even at life) when big savings are involved.

3. Just because it’s in an ad doesn’t mean that the store will have it. Oh, not that the item has been sold out before I get there. Oh no…but that the store didn’t even get the item advertised, causing individuals (me) to drive to the nearest alternative in a completely different town to find the desired item.

4. Hair up. Always wear hair up during the Black Friday-ocalypse. It is a fact that stores’ temperatures are kept AT LEAST 2,000% higher than usual in order to fuel panic to shop quickly and move on to the next store for relief, which would, of course, be just as hot. And YOU will be a hot mess no matter what.

5. And your feet will be a hot mess if you choose cute over comfy…like I did. Yes, my boots with the kick-ass heels made an awesome sound as I clicked down the apartment store aisles. Sure, my ass looked great! But my feet were calling me, “bitch,” and not quietly, after the first two stores. Might be the stupidest choice I made (other than participating in Black Friday).

6. The smartest thing I did today was sneak my headphones into my purse before I left for my morning of shopping “fun” (*cough* *cough*, nightmare). This allowed me to listen to my awesome music and prevented me from stabbing people with any of the nearby toys and kitchen utensils I passed while I waited in the checkout line at Kohl’s FOR ONE WHOLE HOUR. (Let me extend a thank you to the Foo Fighters, Pink, Taylor Swift, Silversun Pickups, The Vines and about 20 other bands/artists for all your support).

7. Just because there is an hour line in front of you doesn’t mean that a roller coaster is waiting for you at the end of it (I was very disappointed).

8. Try to surround yourself with short people when standing in long lines (this is where the heeled boots came in handy). You make friends fast when you can tell the people standing in front of you where their loved ones are in the building looking for them standing in line. You’re welcome, short people whose names I never acquired.

9. Back to the cute thing. At least for us single gals, there is no point in dressing cute for Black Friday shopping. The only men you will find on Black Friday are married, or with their very young kids. Aim higher than that. Single (or hiding it better) and no kids (or kids that are already away at college), ok?

10. And finally (cause my beer is all gone and I’m sleepy), don’t participate in Black Friday. Just don’t do it. And if you must do it, just don’t do it anyway…I didn’t even make it to Victoria’s Secret for the free tote with $65.00 purchase (wah wah).

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!


This is an awesome tree...just for you.

Your Buddy,

Roxy

It's THAT Moment...

2012-06-19T22:06:00.001-04:00

That moment when you're in a building for 5 minutes or more before you realize there's a hot guy (or girl for any male/lesbian readers) in the room with you, so you suck in your gut...

AS IF THEY ALREADY DIDN'T SEE IT THERE.

See below for side angle of current gut...got bored playing with new camera phone.

Thank the gods for my big boobs or this gut shot might be even more tragic (wah wah).

Your Workout Buddy,
Roxy

How A Diet (especially mine lately) Works

2012-06-07T23:23:00.001-04:00

I know I haven't been around for a bit, but thought I'd share this video...pretty much explains the last few months. OH! And subscribe to this chick's (Jenna Marbles) YouTube channel...she's freakin' insane.

Fortune Cookies are Very Wise Indeed!

2012-03-19T19:45:00.001-04:00

Cleaning my room today and I find the following fortune (see photo):

"The Cure for Grief is Motion."

Not food, not sex...ok probably sex too (the fortune didn't say the ONLY cure)...anyway...

Oh fortune cookie, how right you are! And I shall keep you somewhere safe; a little fitness reminder from a sugary treat.

What helps you remember to workout?

Your Buddy,
Roxy

Beer of Choice - St. Paddy's Day Edition

2012-03-17T14:00:00.001-04:00

Today I stay in and be productive around the homestead...but while I'm productive, I still plan on celebrating (see photo).

And yes that is dark chocolate with almonds I'm enjoying with my low-calorie beer. So, at least when I'm finished downing my six pack and catching up with laundry & family drunk, I'll know that I've only consumed 330 calories in booze...I'll factor in food later (wah wah).

Remember, be safe & most importantly HAVE FUN!!!

Your Workout Buddy,
Roxy

My Workout Buddy BIGGEST LOSER Challenge

2011-08-01T22:28:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow morning begins a new challenge and a new set of goals for me. Meet my sister-in-law Holly:

(Sorry Holly, but I’m borrowing this picture of you online.)

Her and I have started a new tradition over the last few months where we go out to eat at places we don’t get to on a normal basis once a month (i.e. any type of ethnic restaurant like Aladdin’s Eatery…yum), and then get drinks (drunk) afterward.

YAY BOOZE!!!

So, after talking at our last meet-up last week about how I would like to lose more weight, and she would like to lose the baby weight she’s been struggling to lose (having a girl is like a curse upon the waistline by the way), she decided to text me with a proposition…A BIGGEST LOSER CHALLENGE!!!

The terms of this challenge: Whoever loses more weight each month will be The Biggest Loser that month and will not have to pay for drinks at our next meet-up.

The challenge starts tomorrow (or today by the time I tweet this for people to actually read), August 2, 2011. I will weigh myself (YIKES) and post the beginning results online at my favorite calorie/exercise tracker: My Fitness Pal.com

While only the weigh-in at the end of the month…in this case, the 2^nd of every month...will count, I will post a weekly weigh-in on my tracker site as well as an update on my blog. SO WATCH FOR IT!!!

My goals as they stand today:

1. Eat no more than 1299 calories for the 1^st week

2. Drop 20 pounds in the 1^st month (I know I can do 15 pounds in two weeks when I try)

3. Drop 30 pounds by the end of September

This will grow and change as I grow (SHRINK) and change.

Wish me luck!!!

And here’s a TOPIC OF THE WEEK:

How have your goals changed since you’ve grown (hopefully as a person and not in the weight-sense)?

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

P.S. Remember to follow me on Twitter @RainmakerRoxy and tweet my trending topic #WOBuddy...do it today!!!

Just Repeat or #JustRepeat

2011-01-24T21:35:00.000-05:00

Howdy,

I know it's been a while. Did you miss me? I missed you!

If you missed me that much, follow me on Twitter: RainmakerRoxy.

And of course, if you are already follow me on Twitter, then you know I'm having a Twitter crisis. I am already following so many people, and new Twitter rules state that I have to have so many followers in order to follow more people back.

So this is my public apology to all my followers that I have not followed back yet, and all my current followers that I may be dropping in the near future (don't worry, I only plan on dropping spammers and companies that I automatically followed early on).

To learn more about this Twitter rule CLICK HERE!!!

But until then, I would like to build our "Workout-Buddyship" with a new trending topic I've created:

#JustRepeat

This is my version of a daily affirmation, but a little more personal. For example...

I'm getting out of the gym after a hard-ass workout, it's been a few hours since my last meal, and I see this on the car in front of me:


You think this person likes to eat? Maybe they know something about snacking that the rest of us don't?

I don't know about you, but for me, several things come to my mind. Mostly, how HUNGRY I am!

So I would tweet something like this: "#JustRepeat Apple or doughnut, APPLE...or doughnut, don't lie, you know which one is the right choice. #WoBN"

If my affirmations strike a chord with you, if you feel like they are true in your life, then please RETWEET YOUR HEART OUT!!!

And if you have a #JustRepeat you'd like to share, then please Tweet it and share it with me. I'd love to spread the word around.

Ok, I've said all I can say...except to Twitter...Expand my limit already!!!

Your Buddy,
Roxy

P.S. For those of you confused, #WoBN stands for "Workout Buddy Needed."

My Dream Normality (Workout Session 11)

2010-08-10T00:09:00.000-04:00

I've actually lost a few pounds over the last week, so I'm in kind of in a good mood...getting away from that damn 230 number that was creeping up on me and scaring my increasingly tighter pants off.

So last week was one in rare form; I was actually bored at work. I had free time to read others' blogs, apply for jobs elsewhere, and write a bit for myself. And to stop my boredom in its tracks, I had my iPod containing the fabulous Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone podcasts, and was listening to some old downloads to keep myself from falling asleep at my desk.

And then I got inspired!

In the podcast labeled "Farewell to the Noughties," Diet Girl Shauna says something around the lines of figure out what your life would be when you're ready to maintain your weight. What exercises would you do, what foods would you eat if you were in the phase of life that isn't dependent on temporary dieting. Because the difference between what you do while dieting and what you should do to maintain is not that significant at all.

This inspired me, got my brain waves going.

What do I want? What do I want my life to be once I reach my goal weight? What do I see in my crystal ball as a normal day/week in the life of skinny me?

Because there is no reason (other than the job I really REALLY don’t want, but currently have) that I shouldn’t be living that life.

So here’s what I came up with:

Eat a breakfast that is satisfying and has at least one vegetable (I find that veggies in the morning make all the difference)
Start each morning with a workout (5 out of 7 days I would like it to be circuit training, weightlifting type of workout, the weekends could vary between yoga, Pilates, or running)
Walk, or run, each day (I should run 3 days a week, twice after work, and once on the weekends) for at least 15 minutes
Do yoga at least once every day, and end each day with a yoga session…now I know this isn’t really realistic, so I think that if I at least have one yoga session a day, I should be good (a little bit of yoga is something the body is able to handle every day, unlike weightlifting and running)
Eating out should be a treat. I ate out this weekend on Sunday and a little bit on Saturday, but I refused to eat out the 4 days before, and the food I ate tasted even better because I wasn’t used to eating that food on a daily basis. So, if I have to eat out, save it for the weekend.
Wake up early everyday INCLUDING WEEKENDS. I like the idea of being able to get my ass out of bed every morning by 6:15AM…doesn’t always work, but I very much want my body to want to.
Be ready for bed by 11:00PM. Now this does not mean I’m asleep by 11PM, but my jammies are on, my teeth are brushed, my face is washed, and my night guard is in…in other words, I’m ready to fall asleep in front of my TV.
Go grocery shopping once a week. I have the habit of doing all my grocery shopping at once every 2-3 weeks and buying what I think I have a taste for at the time, but then I’ll lose interest in half of the items (usually a fruit or veggie item), and it spoils before I can cook it. Enough wasting food and money!
I want to fit in no exercise things into my normal routine, short 5 - 30 minutes stints of meditation, preferably on a daily basis
Music lessons - If I can fit in 30 minutes 4 times a week on my guitar and my keyboard, I think my lessons may take off.

OK, that’s all I’ve got for now, but I’m sure this list will grow too. I think my next step would be to come up with a planned schedule for all of these activities!

So, here's the TOPIC OF THE WEEK (I know! I haven’t had one in a long time!!!):

What is your dream you? I’m hoping you love yourself, so I’m not talking about personality, or even weight, but what about your dream normality of living? How would you like to get through a typical day every day (or week)?

(OK, I saw this image & couldn't help myself)

OK gang, hit the showers, and I'll see you next session!

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

I'm so SICK of Day 1

2010-08-03T11:09:00.000-04:00

Yep...again.

I think I need a place I can turn to as a reminder of what eating out does to my body:

T2R - RESTAURANT VERSION

Steak and Shake = Milkshakes make my stomach feel like crap, and my digestive system go wonky, plus they always forget the ranch dressing for the onion rings...yeah, and the onion rings are just too much for your belly too.
Applebee's = No matter what you order, it always makes you feel bloated, plus, they somehow find a weigh to mess up your order when it's just a salad.
Wendy's = A burger AND a salad is too much for your stomach (See Steak and Shake), just get the big salads they have, and you'll be fine, don't touch the flavored boneless wings.
QDoba = They always get your order right, but the shell of their salads, while tasty, is way too heavy, take a break and get the salad naked, Chicken is the only decent meat they have.
Chipotle = The chips upset your stomach, provide your own or just get the burrito bowl without chips, and the barbacoa meat is WAY too salty...YUCK! Tacos are occasionally fine if you need something crunchy.
Taco Bell = You better be extraordinarily drunk cause there is NO REASON you should be eating here...you only like the stuff that's bad for you here.
Aladdin's = You should only eat here for dinner, and only if you have 600 extra calories for the day, you know you like the tabouli and the chicken mishwi salad with the hot sauce and yogurt dressing...maybe the shish kabob salad, that's a lot of calories, and ask them to give you less pita bread to stop you from eating or wasting it
Starbucks = Ok, anything you order should be NONFAT NO WHIP, and for pastries, you have no reason to order anything that isn't reduced fat...don't want the few things they have that are reduced fat? Then don't order any pastry, also Grande is the biggest size you should ever order...Venti is WAY too much.

TIPS FOR ANY OTHER RESTAURANT NOT LISTED HERE:

Just get fish and vegetables, or a salad of some sort...even if they make it with added calories, you still get some nutrients you probably wouldn't with something else.

That's more like it!!!

Day 1...this is it, I can feel it.

Your Workout Buddy

Roxy

Day 1 Revisited

2010-08-02T08:14:00.000-04:00

Here we are on another Monday. Mondays are the days people tend to start their diets, right? Well...

"Here I go again on my own..."

And yes, I am going down the only road I've ever known...that is, if I keep doing what I've been doing in order to get through my diet days. Every day I've failed to stick to my nutritional plan, I keep thinking about the phrase: we are what we repeatedly do.

So what have I been doing? I overthink what I'm going to eat all day. My breaks from the day happen when I get to eat, and that's all I give myself to look forward to. My days have been eat, work, hopefully workout, watch TV, and then fall asleep. This needs to change because there is little to no room for growth. At least in the other areas of my life.

No need to grow in size, thank you very much.

So here's the plan, on days when I don't have to go shopping for groceries, or anything else I need, my debit and crdit cards stay at home...no need and no money to keep eating out, and my pants will thank me.

I will focus on a few of my personal goals and set myself up a weekly schedule to achieve them. These goals are as follows:

Continue my spiritual development (and my spirituality is...NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, just know it's important)
Continue to develop my pianist skills ( I said pianist...dirty-minded sons of...)
Continue job hunting with a fiery passion (or sales will be the death of me)

And that list will probably grow from here.

T2R...An Ongoing list

Starting over is always an option...try not to have to do it so often, cause it makes you crazy.

Until next time...

Your Workout Buddy,

Roxy

Daily Check-In: Day 3

2010-06-12T00:47:00.000-04:00

Alrighty, it's after midnight, I've had a really REALLY long day at the office (which you know if you're following my tweets - @RainmakerRoxy). So, let's make this short and sweet.

Not a horrible day. I ate over 1400 calories by the end of the day. Less than last night, but more than my 1200-1300 limit. I would also like to report that I dropped a couple of pounds between yesterday and today. Let's hope for deja vu tomorrow morning.

Got my workouts in. 30 Day Shred in the morning. And let me say how happy I am that it's the weekend. My body needs a break to recover. This weekend, it's all about the running and yoga. Taking it a little easy. Monday, we'll pick it back up again. Also got in 30 minutes of intense jogging on the elliptical at an average of 3-5 incline.

Effort + Cleveland humidity = one very sweaty lady. Felt great!

I gave in to eating out today. All in the name of "I HAVE TO GET THE FREAK OUT OF MY OFFICE!!!" Instead of my smoothie, I had a coffee nonfat Frappucino at Starbucks and arrived late to work by 15 minutes. My boss was out, so of course I was going to take some advantage. Joke was on me though. I had tons to do, and didn't want to plant my but in my seat all day, so I was forced to leave and grab lunch late (2:30pm), and then stay past 8PM. Lunch, by the way, was Chipotle. Delicious!

Sorry, I guess I'm just in complaint mode today. I think that's a sign to get to bed. Running in the Garfield Heights Metroparks in the morn, followed by yoga, and hiking with friends in the afternoon!

T2R The List Continues:

If I'm going to cave and eat out, go to the Chipotle at City View...they just hired someone cute!
Must catch up on my podcasts. I love to listen to them while I run on the elliptical. Maybe I'll try that at the park too

More to come...

And just because I can't get this image out of my mind, here is a vision of what I hope to avoid:

Yeah, this is that woman who is trying to gain weight to make it up to 1000lbs! I'm too tired to go into how incredibly wrong this is on several different levels, but I'm sure we'll eventually get to it.

Goodnight everybody!

Your Workout Buddy,
Roxy