Take your lunch in style

I am so excited about this lunch tote/cooler bag I found in the latest Crate and Barrel catalog! I just ordered mine and I can't wait. Now, i won't stand out quite as much when I'm always carrying my cooler around!! Genius!!! I never leave the house without food and I always take an extra meal beyond what I think I'll need and I usually need it!!

I might have to get a second one. I got the teal to go with my blue Coach bag, though I maybe should have gotten the black....but I thought it might be a wee bit boring! :) Trying to add a little color to my life!

Order yours here

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UPDATE
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I asked Shawna of styleberryPHOTO to take this photo for me to show how small this bag is. It works for a lunch, or a few meals but not much more than that. It's pretty small. We both thought that this was a shoulder bag almost, but it's pretty small. The bag I take now has room for food, 2 cooler packs and a huge water bottle. This is still more stylish for around town, or one errand, but I'll stick to my huge backpack for all day road trips. Just thought I'd update you after I received my purchase!!!

Alias

I'm totally addicted to Alias!!! I'm only on Season 1 (Gotta love Netflix!!!) so DON'T SPOIL it for me if you have seen them all. As always, I dig a tough female lead and of course Garner is a tough and lean female lead! Great show!

Little Black Dress

Oxygen Magazine

I love this idea!!! I have my brother's wedding as my short term goal in Sept but of course my comp next year is the long term goal for me in general. It's nice to have a short term goal or a realistic goal of a moment that you want to look excellent to keep you on track when you want to fall off!!!

Progress Pics (A Little Late)

June 4, 2009 ~ July 11, 2009
Sorry these are backwards! I'm really bad at getting the same shots each week.
I can definitely see the difference a few pounds makes in my abs!! Woohoo!!!

So the last few weeks have been crazy. My parents were in town to visit, my mom for 2 weeks because she's a teacher and can do that over the summer. As you all know I'm also busy working full time and getting my masters! My trainer has added in a few more cardio sessions (not many) but I haven't been religious with getting them done this last week. I am proud of my progress because I cheated a few more times than I should have while my parents were in town and for my birthday and I haven't done all of my cardio, but I still have results!!!!

June 18, 2009 ~ July 11, 2009
Don't pay attention to my mean farmer's tan! I'll have to get rid of that before my brother's wedding in September!!

I'm down another couple of pounds. I'm 2 pounds or more lighter than my last pics in each of those photos as of today! Woohoo! So, I'm still seeing progress, even though I have not been as strict as I know I should have been! I know that I could be seeing more results if I was sticking to the plan more diligently....next week! I will also be out of town for around 9-10 days coming up so that will be a bit of a challenge, and I'm thinking I might skip my cheat today to make up for it. It's been 9 days or so since I've had a cheat and I'm doing ok! I have weak moments, but they pass!

June 18, 2009 ~ July 2, 2009 ~ July 11, 2009
Not feeling this most recent pic of me on the far right...looks like my hips are a bit softer than in weeks prior. I'm not sure if it's the angle or what! I'm at least 2 pounds down from the other 2 photos, so who knows. I feel better and know I'm losing, even if my photos aren't worthy of a magazine and even if I'm not ready to get on stage yet!

I'm really having peace about this whole transformation process. It is SUCH a process! I'm enjoying the process. I'm learning that I can do it and that it's not that tough. I'm leaerning so much about myself and resisting temptation. It's a crazy thing to know I CAN DO IT! I'm gaining the tools I need for later in life to maintain my weight the healthy way and teach those tools to my future children. I'm learning that it takes a great deal of time to lean out at this point but that it CAN be done if you stick to the plan.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT! IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME!!

It's Never Too Late

I like this quote because I often look back and wonder what life would be like if I would have started this process earlier towards competition. But, that's the wrong attitude. The point is that I've started now! The point is that life is a journey and the tools that I'm learning daily will help me with the rest of my life. The point is that our lives are a plan and each day builds on the next and each part of life is an important part that prepares you for the next.

It's never too late to do what you've always dreamed of and be who you've always known yourself to be!!!!!

Standing Still

I got an email this morning from SparkPeople and loved this quote. I love this saying because I think there's even more meaning with weight loss and fitness goals. Sometimes even standing still is better than quitting or going backward and gaining weight back. Sometimes standing still, maintaining weight loss and fitness goals, is tough!!!! It appears that is where America fails....we can ALL lose weight but can we keep it off? Can we stand still and maintain our weight loss? That still takes a lot of work and effort (and self control)! That still takes exercise and a maintanence level of calories.

For me, I'm struggling with how slowly the progress is happening but that's what happens when you lose it for good! When you lose it the right way it takes time. When you lose fat and not muscle it's a slow process! I'm working hard and succeeding at enjoying the process....I hope you can too!!!

Inspiration.....Me???

June 18, 2009 ~ in a hotel for work....excuse the background!
Please also forgive the morning hair and no makeup ~ it was 6 am and this is right after getting out of bed at my hotel (I was traveling for work)!

I was at the gym the other day and a man asked me a question about working out....this happens now and then. I usually refer people to the BFL book or answer their questions about what I do, if it relates or if I can give a short answer. This time, though, he said to me that he works out harder when I am in the gym because he always sees me busting my a$$!!!

Me??? Inspiring others to work harder in the gym??!!! That is the coolest thing!!!! So, think of that while you're in the gym ladies, even if others don't say it....they may be thinking it! It's nice to know that not only am I doing a great thing for myself by being at the gym, but to know that I may be motivating others while there is just icing on the cake...no, no icing at the gym :(.

I'm pretty happy with my results so far with Lean Bodies Consulting. I wish they had come faster, of course. And, I feel like had I worked harder or been stricter with my diet or cheats that it would have come faster. Regardless, I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of continued results during this cut. Thanks so much for all of your support! I truly appreciate it.

And, the BFL Challenge that I organized for the wives is starting on Monday!!!! If anyone wants to join with us for the fun of doing a challenge, it starts Monday, June 22, 2009!!!

Progress Pics - Another 2 weeks

Left June 4 * Right June 18

Left May 21 * Middle June 4 * Right June 18

I added an extra picture because of my "stance" I changed it from week to week by accident!

I apologize for the background in these images...I was out of town for business when I took them. I had to adapt. I did the best I could without a camera tripod, using the counter in the hotel room!

I am so excited about my results this 2 weeks. I really see that my waist is trimming. My thighs are leaning out a bit, but I have a ways to go before my jeans will fit. I'm still one size up in my jeans and pants for now. I'm getting much closer though and I'm pretty confident that I will be able to wear my pants again once I lean out. I know I have bulked up a lot in my lower half but I'm hoping that I still have a lot of fat to lose so I can wear my old clothes again soon!!!

I was really worried about my results this week because after my cheat meal last Saturday (full of carbs and sugar as usual) I gained 9, yes NINE, pounds overnight. I'm sure it was only water weight but I've never heard of NINE POUNDS OVERNIGHT!!! Every day after, it was slowly coming down, 2-3 pounds a day but part of my brain said, OMG...I ruined it in one meal!!! I talked to my trainer and he's perplexed as well, it seems. He thinks it might be hormonal....he's probably right! The human body, especially the female body, is amazing!!!

My new iPhone background

Sent from my iPhone

Cottonelle Puppy Gets Pampered commercial

As the proud owner of a "retriever" I have to admit that I love all ads and commercials with retrievers in them....labs or goldens. So, when I saw this commercial I thought it was adorable. I know it has nothing to do with Fitness but it has something to do w/ me...FITori :)

Israeli woman mistakenly junks $1 million mattress

By IAN DEITCH, Associated Press Writer Ian Deitch, Associated Press Writer – Wed Jun 10, 3:32 pm ET

JERUSALEM – An Israeli woman mistakenly threw out a mattress she said had almost $1 million inside, setting off a frantic search through tons of garbage at a number of landfill sites on Wednesday. The woman told The Associated Press that she bought her elderly mother a new mattress as a surprise present on Monday — and threw out the old one.

The next day, she said, she remembered that she had hidden her life savings inside the old mattress. "I woke up in the morning screaming, when it hit me what happened," said the Tel Aviv woman, who asked not to be identified.

She went to look for the mattress, but it had already been hauled away by garbage collectors, she said. Searches at three different landfill sites turned up nothing.

She said the money was in U.S. dollars and Israeli shekels. She refused to say how she acquired such a large sum. "It was all my money in the world," she said. There was no way to verify her claims, and she refused to disclose key details.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said he was not familiar with the case and no report had been filed.

The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot published a picture of the woman searching through garbage at a dump in southern Israel. The picture shows the woman, dressed in a white top and black pants with her back to the camera, picking through a huge pile of trash that fills the frame about 10 feet (3 meters) in all directions.

Yitzhak Borba, the dump manager, told Army Radio that his staff was helping the woman, saying she appeared "totally desperate." He said the mattress was hard to find among the 2,500 tons of garbage that arrives at the site every day.

He said he increased security at the site to keep would-be treasure hunters away.

The woman said the money had been stashed in a mattress because she had had "traumatic experiences with banks" in the past. She would not elaborate.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090610/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_million_dollar_mattress

My Hair Throughout the Years

Childhood 1

Childhood 2

Childhood 3

Middle School

High School 1

High School 2

High School 3

High School 4

College 1

College 2

College 3

College 4

College 5

Engagement Pics ~ Summer 2004

Wedding ~ September 2004

2005

2005 - 2006 A

2005 - 2006 B

January 2008

February 2008

March / April 2008

Summer 2008 A

Summer 2008 B

Fall 2008 A

2008 - 2009

I have a friend from college who did an album like this and it was the coolest thing!! I wanted to do the same, but as always, I'd LOVE feedback from you ladies!! What do you think on length and color? I'm thinking I need to keep growing my hair out for my competition next year. I also think that with a tan on stage, that blond will be the best. I also plan to stick with my curls on stage, because that's me! What about with my pale skin??!!! Should I stick with my natural color or add some more blond? I added some blond but feel like I need to add more blond to make it show up with my curls. Keep in mind the tan vs pale differences when critiquing the images!

Body For Life

I know I have posted on BFL before but I am re-reading it again this time for my BFL Fitness Challenge that I'm doing for the wives in our squadron!!! As I was re-reading it last night, I realized that I didn't do a great Book Review or "Cliffs Notes" post (as my BFF calls my book posts) so I thought I would b/c there are some GREAT "cliffs notes" pages in his book that give an idea of what you'll get if you buy this book. I plan to get used copies for each girl who participates in the BFL Challenge...they're as low as $4 online at Amazon.com!!! You can't beat that!

Life I said before about BFL, it has all you need! It gives you the motivation to do it through the stories and before and after pics, then it teaches you a bit about how to get your head in the game. Next, you learn the tools of nutrition and exercise! It's so easy and it is for beginners and experienced athletes. This book is fantastic....and you can even do the workouts from home if you have some dumbbells and a treadmill or can run outside. The cardio is only TWENTY MINUTES!

This book is how I started my LOVE for fitness, nutrition and health and I hope that it can give others the tools they need to start on the path to a healthy and fit BODY FOR LIFE!!!

Preface: Real-World Proof
"Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it. You can. It's up to you. Decide to do it and follow through."

Forward: The Promise
No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you absolutely, positively do have the power to change.

Part I: The Breakthrough

This section is great because it shares stories that you can relate to that will motivate you to begin the work it takes. I just picked one at random....

You can see hundreds of BFL Before and Afters here...

http://bodyforlife.com/success/beforeAfterAfters.asp

Part II: Crossing the Abyss
This is the section that mentally prepares you for the challenge. In sports psychology (I know very little) I learned that there are stages we go through when deciding to start a fitness regime. One of those phases is preparing yourself mentally that you can and will do this! Bill Phillips is a straight shooter and I think all of us need that when it comes to getting real with ourselves about what we're doing and what we are capable of doing!

There is a world of difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

• Make the decison to change.
• Identify your reasons to change and write them down.
  
• Focus on your future vision.
• Dream of what you would like to achieve within 12 weeks.
  
• Transform five of those dreams into goals by giving them a deadline, a way to measure them, and writing them down.
• Identify three unauthorized patterns of action that may hold you back and write them down.
• Identify three new patterns of action that will help you reach your goals and write them down.
• Read what you've writen first thing in the morning and again at night each and every day during your 12-week Program.

Part III: Separating Myth From Fact

He goes into enough detail in the book to give you a great deal of info on each of the following....

• Myth: Aerobics is better for shaping up than weight training.
  
• Fact: To transform your physique, you must train with weights.

• Myth: If you exercise, it doesn't matter what you eat.
• Fact: If you exercise, it matters even more what you eat.

• Myth: If women lift weights, they'll get "bulky."
  
• Fact: Resistence exercise helps women create lean, toned bodies.

• Myth: Weight training is only for young athletes.
  
• Fact: People of all ages should be weight training.

• Myth: Muscles grow while you're working out.
  
• Fact: Muscles grow whiel you're resting and recuperating.
  

• Myth: A certain number of sets and reps gets the job done.
  
• Fact: High-intensity effort produces the best results.
  

• Myth: Eating right means three "square meals: a day.
  
• Fact: Eating six nutritious meals a day is the right way!

• Myth: People who overeat lack willpower.
  
• Fact: Overeating is a natural instinct.
  

• Myth: High-carbohydrate, low-fat diets work best.
  
• Fact: People are becoming fat from a "carb overdose"

• Myth: You have to count every calorie you eat.
• Fact: You should count "portions," not calories.

• Myth: If you "eat right," you don't need to take supplements.
  
• Fact: Studies show many of us do need to take supplements.
  

• Myth: You need to drink water only when you are thirsty.
  
• Fact: Your body needs more water than it's telling you.
  

• Myth: You have to eat "perfectly" all the time.
  
• Fact: There's no such thing as eating "perfectly."

Part IV: The Training-for-LIFE Experience

The following tracking forms can be found on the body for life website.

http://bodyforlife.com/exercise/journals.asp

• Weight train, intensely, for no more than 46 minutes, three times per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Perform 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach (I don't think that's absolutely necessary -FITori), three times per week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Take Sunday off - it's your free day.
• Alternate training the major muscles of the upper body and lower body. For example, the first week, train upper body on Monday, lower body on Wednesday, and upper body on Friday. The second week, train lower body on Monday, upper body on Wednesday, and lower body on Friday. (See chart above).
• Perform two exercises for each major muscle group of the upper body, which includes: chest, shoulders, back, triceps, and biceps; and for the lower body: quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. Train the abdominal muscles after lower body.
• Select one exercise for each muscle group and conduct five sets, starting with a set of 12 reps, then increasing the weight and doing 10 reps, adding more weight and doing eight reps, adding more weight for six reps. Then reduce the weight, do 12 more reps, and immediately go to another set of 12 reps of another exercise for that muscle group.
  
• On all lifts, use a cadence of two seconds (say "I am building my Body-for-LIFE") to lower the weight and one second (say "Body-for-LIFE") to lift it, and "hold" in the top and bottom positions for a count of "one."
• For each muscle group, rest for one minute between the first four sets. Then complete the final two sets with no rest in between. Wait two minutes before moving on to your next muscle group. Complete this pattern five times for the upper body training experience and four times for the lower body training experience.
  
• Follow the Intensity Index pattern and push yourself to reach higher every week.
  
• Always plan your training beforehand. Plan what time you're going to exerices, which particular exercises youl'l be doing, how much weight youll be lifting, and how long it will take you to complete the session. Also, keep accurate records using the Training-for-LIFE Experience Daily Progress Reports (as shown above and found on the link above as well).

Part V: The Eating-for-LIFE Method
When you nourish your body with pure energy, you transfor from the inside out.

• Eat six small meals a day, one every two to three hours.
• Eat a portion of protein and carbohydrates with each meal.
  
• Add a portion of vegetables to a t least two meals daily.
  
• A portion is the amount of an authorized food approximately the size of the palm of your hand or your clenched fist.
  
• Consume one tablespoon of unsaturated oil daily or three portions of salmon per week.
  
• Drink at least 10 cups of water a day.
  
• Use performance-nutrition shakes if necessary to mkae sure you're consuming optimal levels of required nutrients.
  
• Plan your meals in advance, adn record what you eat, using the Eating-for-LIFE Method Daily Progress Reports (shown above and available at the link provided above).
  
• Plan your grocery list.
  
• Once a week, on your free day, eat whatever you want.
  

Part VI: Staying on Course
Life, the ultimate challenge, is not a race to the finish but rather a process of continual growth.

• Expect adversity and be prepared to transform obstacles into energy.
• Honor self-promises by finishing what you start.
  
• Harness the power of positive pressure by embracing challenges.
  
• Focus on progress, not perfection in order to build confidence.
  
• Practice the Universal Law of Reciprocation by giving unselfishly.
  
• Let our Body-for-LIFE Support Team help you succeed.
  

Afteword: The Gateway
The Dream: Change the world...one life at a time.
The Goal: Transform one million Bodies-for-LIFE by 12/31/01.

Appendix A: Questions and Answers

Appendix B: Terms and Jargon

Appendix C: Exercise Guide
This is an exceptional guide to exercises. You can get an exercise ball and a set of dumbbells and do this workout completely at home, with a few occasional gym visits to change it up if needed. This book gives you ALL of the info you need!!!

Appendix D: Daily Progress Reports

Appendix E: Real-Life Success Stories

Dad surprises daughter with return from iraq

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

You all may know that my husband is in the Air Force....I saw this and just LOVED IT!!! And, had to share.

PROGRESS PICS - Another 2 weeks

Excuse the red tummy on my pic on the right from today...I took it right after I got out of bed, hence not showing my face!! :) I do see a wee bit of a difference in my stomache looking a bit flatter! Only time will tell.....keeping it up!!!

Photos on the LEFT were taken 2 weeks ago, today, on 5.21.09 and the ones on the RIGHT were taken today 6.4.09

This has been a crazy week so I apologize for my photos this week sucking!! My BFF suggested that i get a camera tripod...it's on my list of things to go get but haven't done it yet. So, like the past few weeks I have been stacking up books on a dresser and making it work. So, I apologize for the pics being a bit of different sizes this week and my side shot was a different stance also - leg out vs in! Sorry! You can see that there was a bit of a difference though. I had an extra cheat meal last week due to circumstance (those of you who know me personally know what was going on...but not internet-worthy info). And, this week LBC changed up my workouts and diet and "kicked it up a notch" which is awesome! I know I will see even better results coming up!!! I'm excited! The numbers on the scale and the measurements are not that drastic, but I feel and look better. I'm still gaining muscle mass and getting stronger while I am also cutting...so it is the best of both worlds!!!

Courage

Enough said....This was out of the June 2009 Oxygen Magazine

Preparing mentally for the work out

I love this image and think it's a great idea for a pic of me at some point....but I think it shows in one image what she is thinking, mentally preparing for her next lift. To me, she is "talking" to herself saying something like... "You rock!" "You're a beast!" "Light weight" "This is easy" "You can do it" She is getting mentally prepared to lift more than she ever has before.

Take the time to spend 10 seconds before your next set to get mentally prepared and syked up for the next lift!!

YOU ROCK!!!!